The film cleverly reveals that it isn’t the substitute teacher, Ms. Malkin, with her traditional no-nonsense teaching style, who led the students to be successful in her classroom. Instead, it was Leo’s wisdom and advice that he learned from years of being a fifth grade classroom pet, exposed to pre-teens. Along with the humor and funny gags,  the plot sheds light on the real worries and struggles the children had. Like Summer, who struggled with social anxiety and who was overly talkative, and a boy dealing with a unique hairy back issue. He even gave advice to a snobbish  girl named Jayda who thought her life and family were so amazing- Leo sang a song that she wasn’t really that great. 

One of the most funniest parts of the plot of Leo is the portrayal of the kindergarteners, depicted with an amusingly frantic energy reminiscent of little unruly cavemen. They are showcased in the end credits as well, stampeding anything that gets in their way. 

I particularly enjoyed Eli’s drone character in the movie. Eli had overprotective parents, so they decided to have a drone follow their kid around all day- disinfecting him and doing his tasks for him. After Leo convinces Eli to write the drone a letter to let the drone know how he really feels about his ‘helicopter parenting’ the drone, feeling defeated, drops himself into a garbage can in a melodramatic fashion. Later, this drone becomes Squirtle’s sidekick and they work together to track down the kids on their field trip, giving the drone a new lease on life. 

Predictably, jealousy brews among Leo’s pet mate, Squirtle the box turtle and the substitute teacher, Ms. Malkin, as they become envious of the attention Leo is getting from the children. Each in their own way,  attempt to exploit Leo’s newfound fame, leading to humorous moments throughout the film and a trip to the everglades.