I had heard mixed things about IF, but the trailer looked great and I am a big fan of director/writer and actor Jim Krasinski so I wanted to check it out as the movie looked charming. Plus, having Ryan Reynolds in the movie along with an all-star voice cast did not hurt things either.
How to Download IF
IF was released on May 17, 2024. You can expect it to become available on Paramount Plus in about two months from this date. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and check the current availability. If you want to see more of Jim Krasinski, check him out in A Quiet Place. or Monsters vs. Aliens.
The Movie Review
A Movie for Kids and Adults
IF is a movie that I think is kind of hard to describe. The reason I say this is that I went into this thinking it was going to be a standard “family” movie for kids, but with stuff adults would get a kick out of too. Do not get me wrong, that kind of stuff is here in the movie and there are some fun and wacky moments.
Deeper Themes in IF
Yet, IF is a movie that I feel is more aimed at adults than it is at kids. I am sure kids will see the trailer and the posters with the big cute-looking monsters and want to see it. However, there are many moments where I think that things will be too heavy for kids and they will lose interest. For me, IF is a movie for adults to try and get them to remember what it was like to be a kid and get back a bit of that childhood wonder that gets beaten out of us as we get older.
The Heart of the Story
The story of IF is about a kid called Bea. Bea’s father is in the hospital and he is pretty sick, the same hospital where she lost her mother not too long before! Bea is going to stay with her grandmother while her father is in the hospital. I kept thinking that I recognized Bea and then it hit me, she is Judith Grimes from The Walking Dead! Cailey Fleming is fantastic and a true star in the making.
Meeting the Imaginary Friends
While out in town, Bea sees a neighbor acting weird and she follows him and this is where she sees a very strange creature! It turns out that Bea can see IF’s which are Imaginary Friends who have been left behind by their kids once they have grown up. She is not the only one who can see them though as this guy called Cal can also see them.
Ryan Reynolds in a Different Role
Cal is played by Ryan Reynolds and this is not your typical manic Ryan Reynolds role here. He plays the part very well and I thought that the twist was pretty good. Yet, I also get the impression that they wanted to go a bit “darker” with this story, but ultimately chickened out as they knew kids would also want to see the movie.
The Voice Talent Behind the Characters
The various IFs are so much fun and we have some great voice talent here with the likes of Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gosset JR, Awkwafina, and even Emily Blunt. The level of imagination and creativity on show with the design of these imaginary creatures is so awesome and I am honestly shocked there is not a ton of merch for the movie out there.
Final Thoughts on IF
I really did like IF and I think that it succeeded in making me remember what it was like to be a kid with a very active imagination. I honestly think that the movie is going to appeal to adults more than it does younger kids though. I have a feeling that over time, IF will be considered to be a real classic.
