Directed by John Krasinski, IF is a movie about the imaginary friends (IF) everyone supposedly had. The movie is based on the premise that sometimes people should go back to their childhood and interact with their imaginary friend and I really want to know whether having an imaginary friend is that important and I have missed out on something for the past two decades.
John Krasinski adorned many hats in this film as the writer, director and acting as the protagonist’s father and as an IF. He is not unknown to directing as The Quiet Place is a horror film that everyone should watch (I have not but if you like Horror, you probably should.) Yet this film felt like a haphazard mess. The movie starts with a dead wife montage. The montage itself is really confusing; it is unclear what is happening. The protagonist is a young girl, Bea played by Caley Fleming. She was a treat throughout the film with a vibrance and inquisitiveness that lifted the otherwise dry movie.
The first part of the film did absolutely nothing for the plot but oh my god, the second half was so good. The animation was on point, Ryan Reynolds was hilarious and every voice actor (literally all of Hollywood; Emily Blunt, Blake Lively, Matt Damon, Phoebe Waller Bridge, Steve Carell, Louis Gossett Jr. etc). The movie got a new wave of life and finally the movie had some head or tail.
I think the thought behind it was sweet but not enough. They didn’t give it space to thoroughly shine and that is the ending seemed rushed. I do have to say that there was beautiful continuity with small elements coming back to get tied together. It is a good movie to watch to uplift your day but not the best.