John Krasinski is someone who has a true range of talent. He is best known for playing Jim from The US Office but he has also starred in an assortment of films from action to comedy and he’s even played Jack Ryan in the titular Amazon show. Then he made a leap behind the camera as director for A Quiet Place which he also starred in alongside his wife Emily Blunt, and it sparked a franchise. Krasinski however had other plans on what to do next and he’s delved deep into his imagination for his next film as director with IF - which stands for Imaginary Friends!
IF is a grounded film based in New York, but it has elements of fantasy. Cailey Fleming plays Bea, who is currently living with her Grandma, played by Fiona Shaw, due to her father experiencing heart problems and is currently awaiting surgery at a local hospital. Bea soon encounters a mysterious Man who lives upstairs, played by Ryan Reynolds who acts like himself yet again. This stranger is communicating with a weird Disney-insect-like creature and a big purple monster, as it turns out he can see Imaginary Friends which Bea soon realises she can too. She soon discovers this world of abandoned creatures dreamt up by children who then, unfortunately, grew up. IF sees Bea and the Man Upstairs on a mission to re-home these lost IFs.
IF is a film all about creativity and imagination. The designs for the imaginary friends are unique and feel like beings dreamt up by children. Each one stands out and they also have elements of humour incorporated into their designs; whether it is a large banana, a glass of ice or just a random big bubble. The allure of these beings is what will drive families to see the film as they all have a childlike sense of wonder, magic and chaos. There is a sequence in the film where Bea and the Man Upstairs go to the retirement home for these IFs and they get sucked into the world which is changing around them thanks to Bea’s imagination. The film truly does embrace creativity and Krasinski offers bucket loads of it. The sequences are immersive and yet also extravagant. It is the IFs that truly steal the show.
The story does centre a lot around grief, loss and getting older and it was a surprise to see a family fun film such as this tackle such heavy themes. Fleming gives both a mature performance as Bea, but then her childlike sensibilities soon start showing the more she embraces the reality of seeing these IFs. Fleming and Reynolds are paired together brilliantly and offer a lot of warmth and humour to comfort the audiences. Fiona Shaw is equally brilliant and she has her own moment in the film where she gets a wave of nostalgia. Krasinski also plays Bea’s father in the film and he too offers a lot of heart and laughter. Overall the film is a blast and is highly enjoyable. There are times the film slows down a bit too much and the whole re-homing IFs storyline is rushed at the end. Put these little nuggets to one side and what you have is a truly original and heartwarming tale connecting childhood with adulthood and what it means to have that comfort of your own imaginary friend.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Final Verdict:
IF doesn’t break new ground but it does certainly offer an abundance of creativity and originality in a film that may copy a lot of generic tropes from other films like it. Fleming and Reynolds are the heart of the film and their adventure together to re-home these Imaginary Friends is what drives the narrative. The story does get lost towards the end but you can’t deny just how comforting the film feels and how joyful it comes across, especially during a few select sequences. Krasinski has crafted another fun film and it will be fun to see what his imagination comes up with next.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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