“IF” Review: A Predictable, Yet Funny & Tear-Jerking Story Of Imaginary Friends

If “Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends” were a live-action film, it would be the new movie “IF”. For context, “Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends” is a children’s cartoon about a foster home that holds many imaginary friends who, having been lost or forgotten by their previous children, strive to find new ones. That’s basically the storyline of “IF.”

From the trailer alone, the characters introduced seem to have been imagined by children, with their bright colours and cute features, so it’s no secret that this movie is about children’s imagination. Going into this movie, you might expect it to be totally comedic in tone – but you’ll be surprised by how much of “IF” is emotional and even tear-jerking. 

“IF” tells the story of a little girl who loses her mother to cancer. Years later, as her dad is about to undergo intense heart surgery, she and her father settle down in her grandmother’s New York apartment, where she discovers the existence of imaginary friends. And thus, the journey begins to find homes for these imaginary friends – or “IF” for short.  

John Krasinski does an amazing job depicting the idea behind why a child develops an “imaginary friend”, which often stems from traumatic experiences that children go through. Of course, at a young age, no child is able to process their feelings, but they are able to imagine things that make them happy. Oftentimes, it could be a pink dragon or a superhero dog – but nonetheless, imaginary friends are there to lend a helping hand and be a safety blanket. 

The cinematography of the film is well thought out and the scenes in “IF”‘ shine. The camera angles, the placements, and the CGI have a mix of fantasy and reality. This could be a way to show how the two worlds blend, or where the line blurs between what is childish and what is considered mature. It also brings up the question: Should imagination be considered child’s play in order for us to mature? Or do we need more of it to help us in our adult years?

The two main characters in the film are Calvin (played by Ryan Reynolds) and Bea played by (Cailey Flemmings). The chemistry that the two share makes the movie highly enjoyable. However, having a child actress as the main lead can mean the protagonist’s range of emotions is limited.

Flemmings, although wonderful, oftentimes has little to no expression during the delivery of her lines. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions watching Reynolds deliver an Oscar-worthy performance – so Flemmings pales in comparison. Nevertheless, this child actress manages to deliver the emotional feel of some scenes for the full experience.

As mentioned previously, although “IF” has its share of comic relief, the emotional scenes are moving and perfectly delivered. They’ll have you holding back tears or reliving childhood nostalgic memories that can’t help but put a smile on your face. Each character has their own story and their own experiences, but the one thing all the imaginary characters share is their undeniable love towards their children. 

However, people grow up and real life takes over. What’s left behind are the imaginary friends we made along the way. The movie “IF” not only explains the reason for an IF’s existence, but also shows us that even adults need that safety blanket to navigate the real world with real-life problems. 

To conclude the overall review, the portrayal of the characters and the voice actors are outstanding, effectively conveying the characters’ emotions. However, one drawback common to children’s movies is their predictable endings, and unfortunately, this movie falls into that category. Despite the numerous amazing scenes, the predictability of the plot detracts from the experience.

Watch the trailer below:

“IF” makes its way to cinemas on 17th May 2024.

Jade Mary contributed to this article.