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From the director of the blood-curdling A Quiet Place, comes a movie so warm and fuzzy, featuring loveable cartoony imaginary friends alongside none other than Ryan Reynolds – titled “IF“. As mentioned, this is the latest movie by A Quiet Place director and The Office star John Krasinski, who also stars in the movie as the father of Bea, the protagonist.
IF is a family movie all about imaginary friends and follows Bea as she discovers the ability to see them. Bea is played by young actress Cailey Felming, who in the film is going through a troubling part of her life. She later found out about the existence of imaginary friends. Well, not hers, but other people’s imaginary friends who have been abandoned as their kids grew up and forgot about them.
These cartoon characters are under the care of her neighbor Cal, played by the always charismatic Ryan Reynolds. Together, Bea and Cal join forces in order to reunite the imaginary friends with their former kids to avoid them being forgotten forever.
Never Stop Imagining
IF is a surprising adventure, one that is relatable to not only kids but also adults. This is a film that reminds us of our childhood wonders, our wild imaginations, and the made-up companions that stay by our sides as we grow up. Despite its childish themes, IF tells a story in ways that are somewhat mature, with impactful moments that trigger those little emotions in you.
The movie starts out slow, giving a glimpse into Bea’s childhood and a monologue that builds up the core theme – never stop telling a story. While slow, it is a necessary build-up as we fit into Bea’s shoes, under her struggles, and grow to relate to her.
Aside from Bea, we have a cast of imaginary friends, all creatively design and logical in the minds of kids. From Blue, a large furry creature, to Blossom, a cartoon humanoid butterfly character that looks like she came from the 1930s “Rubber Hose” cartoon era. They are even voiced by well-known actors, making it a fun experience especially when you notice names like Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Keegan-Michael Key, and so on, appearing in the credits.
That said, considering the theme of the movie, the twist by the end of the film could be said to be rather predictable. While we could see the twist coming, the movie does not exactly set up many hints to it and even breaks in-universe rules several times to derail you from noticing any details. This is not necessarily bad, because, in the end, it is still an effective story for kids and adults alike.
We love Ryan Reynolds. He’s charismatic and funny in almost every movie he’s in, but in IF, he barely has much to work with. There are not a lot of comedic moments of him presenting his signature dorky jokes. His character Cal’s relationship with Bea also barely grows throughout the movie except for one or two friendship moments. This makes the movie mostly about Bea, and results in the ending less impactful than it wants to be.
Verdict
All in all, IF is just a pure family fun time that tells a relatable story about what it is like to be an imaginative kid again. With a loveable cast of fun dorky imaginary friends and a story that is not afraid to explore the uncertainty of fate, IF is one family movie worth the watch and remembering.
Admittedly, I do wish Ryan Reynolds had more stage to flex his comedic chops and deepen Cal’s relationship with Bea further, but as it stands, there is barely any chemistry between both characters.
That said, IF is still a very charming adventure reminding you to never stop forgetting to have some fun and never stop telling a story.
IF will be available in cinemas on 16 May 2024. Early screening was provided by United International Pictures.
The Review
IF
PROS
- Relatable, fun, and impactful story
- Imaginary friends are loveable
CONS
- Wish Cal and Bea relationships are better established
