Critic Reviews

“Lost Ollie” doesn’t overstay its welcome and keeps you on your toes, especially with its many twists and turns. Boasting stunning VFX work and a sweet-natured story that doesn't shy away from dark elements, it's an outstanding family miniseries that may be small in size but is mighty in heart.

While “Lost Ollie” doesn’t quite live up to its deep potential, it’s leaps and bounds more artistically inventive and emotionally worthwhile than the majority of streaming family entertainment. Don’t let it get lost.

Like so many other streaming series, the project suffers from being parceled out into four 40-50 minute episodes. Some stories are just meant to be movies. Padding them out actually lessens their potency. ... But the strengths of “Lost Ollie” are many. The way it doesn’t shy away from dark, complicated emotions or slippery notions of trust. The way it doesn’t pander or talk down to its audience. Ollie is genuine and sweet and lovely and adorable without being cloying.

This feels like Netflix wanted to make sure that this adaptation didn’t get too saccharine, but in doing so, it just made things ever so slightly weird and off-putting.