IF Movie Review: Actor John Krasinski takes a break from sound-sensing murder-monsters to focus on creatures that exist only in your imagination. These creatures don't kill you; they only want to hug you. With a stacked cast, IF may sound like a film that appeals to kids, but that's far from true. While it features a child as the central protagonist and some furry, adorable, and funny critters, this is a movie targeted at adults. IF is not exactly Monsters, Inc. but rather falls in the spot between Toy Story 3/Inside Out and Christopher Robin, dealing with themes of death, the loss of childhood innocence, and the pains of adulthood. Try ruining your child's sunny vacations with that! IF: Randall Park Impersonates John Krasinski While Chatting With Ryan Reynolds in This Hilarious New BTS Clip.

Bea (Cailey Fleming) is a 12-year-old who has stopped being a kid. Having lost her mother early to cancer, she is now in New York for her father's (John Krasinski) heart surgery, temporarily living with her grandmother (Fiona Shaw). While trying to reconnect with her childhood memories and emotionally dealing with her father's surgery, Bea stumbles upon some funny business going on in the upstairs apartment. She discovers two IFs (Imaginary Friends) in the form of Blue (Steve Carell), a large sneezy creature that isn't blue but purple, and Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), a kindly butterfly-like creature.

Watch the Trailer of IF:

Bea also meets Calvin (Ryan Reynolds), the frequently irked occupant of the apartment. Calvin can also see the IFs and is in charge of relocating them after their previous owners forget about them. Bea decides to help Calvin out, but the task is not as easy as it looks.

Deserved a Better Screenplay...

IF is a movie about reconnecting with your childhood, a phase we appreciate most when we have outgrown it entirely. It may not be entirely original in its concept, but Krasinski (who has also written the screenplay) brings a certain heart to the proceedings that's hard to miss.

Yet, it is his screenplay itself that ties the film into some unresolvable knots in trying to play with our sense of imagination. IF keeps telling us not to question the story since IF can also mean 'What IF?'. But with the kind of rules it sets for the characters, it is confounding to understand their struggles. The first question the film raises is about the reality of IFs themselves: how do IFs come into existence? If a kid is making up their own IF – like how Calvin complains about someone making an invisible IF – then why do displaced IFs try to connect with other kids? Or is the film suggesting that today's kids have lost a sense of imagination to create IFs? Or are they too troubled by the future of this doomed planet to remain kids?

The whole long-strung ritual of getting the IFs to connect with their owner is also dropped by the end for easy payoffs. Even how Bea sees so many IFs is not clearly explained – since as per the rule of the movie, she should have seen only her own, and the twist around Bea's IF isn't too hard to miss.

But Possesses Better Visual Appeal

Yet, despite the confounding rules of this universe, what saves IF to a great extent is how Krasinski brings a visual delight to certain scenes. It is hard not to smile when Bea redesigns what I can describe as a retirement home for IFs, without constraining her imagination. It's a great blend of VFX (credit is also due to the creation of the IF designs), playful characters, and humour, and is easily the standout scene in the movie. Another memorable scene is when the grandma reconnects with her inner child through dance; it is beautifully lit.

The movie also gives a poignant sequence to the late Louis Gossett Jr, who voices an old bear-IF and has a heartfelt conversation with Bea about holding onto your memories. The scene is so touching that I was a little disappointed a similar scene wasn't given to Bea and Calvin, considering their evolving relationship. Their final scene is predictably emotional, but there should have been a couple more scenes of Bea and Calvin connecting with each other. You feel the emotional quotient in some of the final scenes, but you don't feel it is earned enough. A Quiet Place Part II Movie Review: John Krasinski and Emily Blunt’s Sequel Is a Great Horror-Thriller That Keeps You Tethered to Your Seats.

The Cast Works Its Magic

The cast is great. Cailey Fleming is excellent as the girl who finds another chance to relive her childhood, while Ryan Reynolds is his usual charming yet restrained self who complements his young co-star rather than overshadowing her. Krasinski and Fiona Shaw bring enough likeability despite their briefer screentime.

The voice cast also does fine work, with Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and the late Louis Gossett Jr getting their moments to shine. It was also fun to spot the voice cameos of Emily Blunt, Blake Lively, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Christopher Meloni, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Jon Stewart, Richard Jenkins, Awkwafina, Matthew Rhys, Bradley Cooper, and Brad Pitt (?).

Final Thoughts on IF

IF is a visually enchanting and occasionally emotionally resonant film with several delightful scenes. However, the convoluted screenplay and numerous unresolved questions it raises about the characters and plot conflicts diminish the overall experience. The inner child in you would certainly be happier if it weren't left with so many questions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 16, 2024 09:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).