IF
IF is playing in theaters at the time of writing. Rated PG. Common Sense says 6+.
STORY: C+
A fun story with a lot more heart than polish.
Bee is a young girl staying with her grandmother while her dad undergoes heart surgery. One day she meets the mysterious man living upstairs with a rather unusual job: finding new kids for forgotten imaginary friends (IFs). Bee becomes his assistant, working to find matches for the lovable IFs while supporting her dad.
THE SCOOP: Check out IF’s IMDb page, here.
PEOPLE: B+
We’ve got a future star to look forward to: Cailey Fleming.
Ryan Reynolds plays Ryan Reynolds in this movie. He supplies little to no surprise, especially for those who’ve seen the trailer more than once.
The surprise of the film comes from Cailey Fleming. Her young shoulders are more than ready to carry a big studio release. Most of the film’s heart comes from her ability to evoke joy, wonder, and a killer eye roll.
CAST PARTY: Check out Paramount Picture’s featurette with the cast of IF, here. (2 mins)
FILM NERD STUFF: C
The impressive CGI work and camera movement can’t overcome the squirrelly editing.
This film is a feast for the visually-inclined’s eyes. But every once in a while the editing flings us about like a Tilt-A-Whirl on its last legs.
We often find ourselves wondering where we are, instead of wondering what we’ll find next in this magical world.
DIRECTOR’S CUT: Check out John Krasinski appearance on the TODAY show, talking about how his daughters helped him make IF, here. (7 mins)
ELECTIVE CLASS (I Hope The Future’s So Bright We’ll Have To Wear Shades): A-
John Krasinski continues to spread the sunshine.
When Krasinski has creative control, he’s shown a tendency to lean into projects (like his COVID-era web series “Some Good News”) that are whimsical and inspirational. Let’s call his style “whim-spirational”.
There’s not enough people (or studios) putting this type of work out into the world. Hopefully, other people in the biz will become whim-spired to make more films like this one.
FINAL COMMENTS:
The ball may fall just short on the track, but I love Krasinski’s swing for the whim-spirational fences. The storytelling doesn’t do the story’s idea justice, but Fleming’s performance, some impressive animation, and the warmth that fills this film to its delightful brim definitely makes it worth a watch.