Watch TrailerIF Movie Review (2024): Growing up, most of us tend to lose our imagination to reality. The rat race of life, the demand to hit targets before deadlines and the pressure to make ‘dreams into reality’ is so high that the concept of imagination is reduced to immaturity. “I’m not a kid anymore,” screams the inner voice. But when you sit down in front of John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds’ IF (Imaginary Friends), the voices disappear for a while, the stress is reduced and a blanket of comfort wraps you around, reminding you that it’s okay to cave into your imagination, it’s okay to revisit your inner child once a while.
Starring John, Ryan and The Walking Dead’s Cailey Fleming, IF revolves around those forgotten Imaginary Friends from our childhood. With their purpose fulfilled – to be by the children who imagined them and to comfort them during their difficult times – and forgotten by the same kids once they are all grown up, these imaginary beings have no place to go. While Cal (Reynolds) tries his best to comfort them and help them find a new home, it’s not until Bea comes into their lives that the ball sets rolling.
For some strange reason, Bea can see all the imaginary beings. She decides to use her ability to reunite the long lost beings with their adults. Through the film, we meet different adults and imaginary friends, all who are connected to each other in one way or the other. The film’s climax is filled with surprises, overwhelming emotions and could also leave a few (read me) in tears.
IF is a children’s film made for adults. Given that John, who has starred, voiced one of the characters and directed the film, has shared that IF is inspired by his children, his honesty in the storytelling comes through. He is not here to just entertain the children but also the adults who accompany them. Through the film, he also holds you and gives you a good shake to remind you that surrender to your inner child once in a while. His direction is top notch and crisp, with the plot not detailing at any point. The writing is fresh and clear, despite the numerous characters and subplots.
But the writing did have a few flaws. Even though I surrendered to his thoughts, there were a few things that I couldn’t leave to the imagination. For example, the film doesn’t give a clarity on how only Bea is able to see all the imaginary friends. The last scene of the film also left me with a crucial question. Although I am not going to reveal the spoiler, it did come as a road bump.
While the film is not completely holistic, it’s visually beautiful. The imaginary characters are well displayed and even leave you in splits in many scenes. The voice actors behind the characters, especially Steve Carell as Blue and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Blossom are fantastic. John and Ryan deliver their best as always. But the real star of the film is Cailey Fleming. She binds the film together beautifully with her performance. It’s her film out and out.
Bottom line: John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming take you on a mesmerising journey with their imaginary friends. Just play along!
