John Krasinski’s imaginary friend movie needs to keep wearing the thinking cap.
“IF” is an acronym for “Imaginary Friend.” You know the characters that children create that are invisible to the parents and friends, but visible through their eyes. They prefer to be called IFs, so let’s try to keep it that way for the rest of this review of “IF.”
Eventually, kids have to grow up and make some real human friends, which is a sad, but true reality. I’ve never had an IF as a kid, but I did have this wooden board named Plank, because it was a wacky kid’s companion on the Cartoon Network series “Ed, Edd n Eddy,” which I was a big fan of. I moved on soon, even though my mother reminds me of how she saved him from being swept away in the ocean at the beach. I guess you could call him an IF.
Written-directed by-and co-starring John Krasinski, “IF” tells the story of a variety of IFs who are now invisible to their now grown-up creators, and are in need of new kids. Unfortunately, as well-meaning and visually stunning as it is, I was expecting a lot more magic from a world of IFs. There’s so many interesting things that I would have liked to get to know more of, if the movie would take its time to explore them.
Their only recourse is to have two disenchanted humans-the 12-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming) and the cynical Cal (Ryan Reynolds)-help them find their perfect matches, or, at least, remind their adults about the magic they gave them in their youth.
Here are some eccentric examples of these IFs.
There’s a giant furry, purple monster named Blue (voiced by Steve Carell, Krasinski’s “Office” co-star), who is named that, because his kid is color blinded. And his calming down mantra is “Coffee and Croissants.”
There’s also the butterfly dancer named Blossom (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge), who looks like an ant at the moment, but when she dances, her wings come out. And her eyes look like something out of Max Fleischer.
There’s also the elderly bear named Lewis (voiced by the late Louis Gossett, Jr.), who has his own philosophies on life. You could say: he’s a bear of very big brain.
And many other IFs include a rainbow unicorn (voiced by Emily Blunt, Krasinski’s wife), a superhero dog (voiced by Sam Rockwell), a walking sunflower (voiced by Matt Damon), an astronaut (voiced by George Clooney), and, for some reason, an invisible IF, which is almost as stressful as an invisible car.
The performances I liked (human or IF) come from Fleming, Fiona Shaw (as her grandmother), Carell, Waller-Bridge, and Gossett, Jr, while Reynolds seems too cynical to be sharp and funny in the tradition of Bob Hoskins’ Eddie Valiant in “Who Framer Roger Rabbit.” This big list of stars has, at least, a few that stand out and entertain you, while there are those who can do better.
What begins as a promisingly delightful concept ends up becoming a convoluted and under-developed family movie that grows up a little too fast. Krasinski has the ability to transition from a horror filmmaker (“A Quiet Place”) to a family filmmaker, but he needs a little more patience and a little more understanding in the narrative. And I know there’ll be those reminded of the animated show “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” or even “Monsters Inc,” if you look closely.
Even though I can’t really recommend “IF,” I basically have the same reaction as I did with “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu.” It’s great looking and heartwarming, but it needs a fresh story to elevate the fantasies and realities here.
