IF Movie Review

  

IF

Synopsis: Bea (Fleming) who after going through a difficult experience begins to see everyone's imaginary friends who have been left behind as their real life friends have grown up.

Director: John Krasinski

Stars: Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski and voice of Steve Carrell

Runtime: 1 hour 44 mins

Genre: Family Comedy Drama

"From the imagination of John Krasinski" it says in the trailer. What it doesn't say is that the 44 year old hailing from Boston, MA (Best known as Jim in The Office) came up with the idea for film during the deepest, darkest days of lockdown. During the lockdown he did an endearing YouTube video series called Some Good News which reported on nothing but good news. Krasinski picked up on the vibe of those videos and wondered if he could make a feature film that felt like it was giving you a huge hug.

And so, we've got IF. Let's break it down..

Story and Plot

Bea (Cailey Fleming) is having a hard time at home after a family tragedy which gives her the ability to see the world filled with eccentric & quirky IF's or Imaginary Friends (to give the movie it's full title). Once adored by their respective human friends these IF's have been abandoned as their companions have outgrown them. 

Sharing her ability is neighbour Cal (Reynolds) who is reluctantly drawn in on the action along with a rather large IF called Blue (V.O Carrell) (who is actually purple, his name comes from the fact his human friend is colour blind so as a child called him Blue).

My overall thoughts...

Every now and again you see a movie that you're waiting for it to start, but it never really does, unfortunately IF is one of those movies. I really liked the trailer and so wanted to like this one, but as it turns out this movie was a disappointment. 

This movie is rated U by the BBFC but unfortunately it falls through the crack of not having enough sweet slapstick for little ones and not enough really going on for the adults.

Don't get me wrong, it's a really sweet movie with a lovely message but I found it, well, boring to be candidly frank and also a little strange in parts. The movie is also not that funny with majority of the jokes and gags landing flat. (The best of which are in the various trailers). Despite Fleming's very strong central performance I also just wasn't emotionally invested in what was going on.

From the first few scenes (which is reminiscent of the start to Pixar's Up) you get Bea's story, but then the movie’s forward momentum seems to grind to a halt in a sense and develops real pacing issues where it seems to lack any direction and feels very unstructured as a result. There is also another side story concerning Bea's Dad's health that kept detracting me from the main story. 

Cast

Cailey Fleming is the best thing in this movie, the 17 year old (who plays a 12 year old here) virtually carries the movie with Reynolds firmly locked into a supporting role. She is fantastic  and deserves to go a long way, this will definitely be seen as her breakout role. 

Ryan Reynolds was the leading man Krasinski had in mind from the off. Make no mistake given this movie, you obviously get Uncle Fluffy Ryan not snarky quippy "Deadpool" Ryan. His innate likeability and bucket load of charisma shines through as Cal, but I felt even his performance was just a tad remote and flat.

The movie also re-unites Krasinski (who plays Bea's Dad) with his co-star of The Office, Steve Carrell. The first project they have worked with each other on since the iconic TV show, over a decade ago. Whilst they never share the same screen, it's nice for them to work together again. As for Carrell he is funny as Blue.

Fiona Shaw provides solid support as Bea's doting grandmother, even though I found her American accent slipping in and out from her native British voice. 

As for the other IF's, the voice cast is a literal Who's Who of Hollywood, Phoebe Waller Bridge Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Sam Rockwell, Maya Randolph, the list continues. 

Sound and Spectacle

The CGI for the various IF's is very well done, but the VFX (e.g composite shots) where Bea or Cal are talking to them are not great to be honest, it felt very green screen. The movie is beautifully shot though so it was no surprise to learn the DP for IF is the great Janusz Kaminski, the de facto DP to Steven Spielberg no less.

On screen Action

After the on-screen action and intensity of the silent but deadly world of A Quiet Place, the action in this movie is decidedly more family friendly. The problem is though there is not a huge amount of action. There is a frankly bizarrely placed musical number (Not musical in that sense!) but other than the odd chase scene it's not that heavy on action.

Music and Score

Michael Giacchino provides the score which is of his usual high calibre. The movie also features a few needle drops.

Fleming shines but IF is an unfortunate misfire that whilst a sweet natured well meaning venture by Krasinski, struggles in it's execution. Plagued by pacing issues, gags that don't quite land and a relatively flat Reynolds. On paper this could have been something special...IF only. 

Verdict  - It's Fine