IF instantly gives us a heads-up of what to expect early on, as the BBFC title card states “bereavement theme”. Yep, another film which instantly gives us a downer before it’s even started.
In this case, it’s 12-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming – Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker), who’s still getting over the death of her mum, and now her nameless Dad (John Krasinski – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) is going into hospital for an operation, the details of which are never disclosed. However, when I’ve had those, I’ve always checked in the day before the op, yet ‘Dad’ seems to be sitting around in his expensive room for days on end before anything actually happens. Why?!
Bea also brings him flowers, regularly, clearly forgetting (a) he’s a straight man, and (b) flowers haven’t been allowed in hospitals for years, partly because flower water can contain dangerous bacteria, but also more practical reasons such as spillages, broken glass and pollen.
She also finds an old camcorder so he can watch footage of happier family times while he’s still on the waiting list, yet she doesn’t think to charge it first, or check it’s even working?!
Still, while he’s waiting, she’ll spend him with her grandma (Fiona Shaw, easily the best thing about the otherwise mediocre Three Men And A Little Lady).
Anyhoo, in a film which takes a long 20 minutes to get going, the basic premise sees Cal (Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool 2) helping a large grouo of imaginary friends – or, IFs – find the children they grew up with, but who have since forgotten they ever had one.
Plus, like how Suge Knight forgot about Dre, Bea also forgets having an IF, but soon comes across many of them, including Blue (Steve Carell – The Morning Show), who’s purple, but his creator was colourblind. Plus, in describing the situation, the scene with him wanting to get the “IF” word out – but being stopped from doing so – is played out differently in the film, in a slightly alternate scene.
One of the best parts is a scene around halfway through with a ton of well-done CGI, including Cal stepping through a Van Gogh-style painting, but it’s a small part of a film, that overall feels much longer than it needs to be.
I also feel IF is a bit too saccharine for the market in 2024. I went for Ryan Reynolds, but kids won’t know who he is, and I think if they’re older than about 8, they’re going to get seriously bored. Plus, most families will instead plump for The Garfield Movie, which is coming out the week after, but like IF, is also having weekend previews the Saturday and Sunday before its release. However, on the Sunday afternoon preview when I saw this, there was less than ten people in the room.
The Sat/Sun previews make potentially good sense for the box office, though. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie also did this, and it also allowed the initial ‘weekend’ box office figures to have a 9-day weekend. Confused? Well, most films are released on a Friday, with some coming out on the Weds or Thurs before, on occasion. However, for its first ‘weekend’, it’s actually allowed to release on the SATURDAY before the weekend in order to try and boost that.
For kids films, though, it’s only really worth concentrating on the Sat & Sun for the previews, and the only film that springs to mind for trying to take advantage of those extra days, is 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight.
There’s also a very brief post-credits moment, as you’ll discover in the video below, if you miss it in the cinema.
IF is in cinemas from Friday May 17th, but isn’t yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD. However, once announced, it will appear on the New DVD Blu-ray 3D and 4K releases UK list.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 104 minutes
Release date: May 17th 2024
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cinema: Odeon Trafford Centre
Rating: 4/10
Director: John Krasinski
Producers: Andrew Form, John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, Allyson Seeger
Screenplay: John Krasinski
Music: Michael Giacchino
Cast:
Cal: Ryan Reynolds
Bea: Cailey Fleming
Bea’s Dad / Marshmallow (voice): John Krasinski
Blue (voice): Steve Carell
Grandmother: Fiona Shaw
Blossom (voice): Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Lewis (voice): Louis Gossett Jr
Unicorn (voice): Emily Blunt
Flower (voice): Matt Damon
Alligator (voice): Maya Rudolph
Robot (voice): Jon Stewart
Guardian Dog (voice): Sam Rockwell
Magician Mouse (voice): Sebastian Maniscalco
Cosmo (voice): Christopher Meloni
Art Teacher (voice): Richard Jenkins
Bubble (voice): Awkwafina
Bobby Moynihan Bobby Moynihan
Benjamin: Alan Kim
Janet: Liza Colón-Zayas
Willa Winters: Mellanie Hubert
Spaceman (voice): George Clooney
Arlette Aponte: Michael Sarnoski
Slime (voice): Keegan-Michael Key
Ghost (voice): Matthew Rhys
Ice (voice): Bradley Cooper
Octopuss (voice): Blake Lively
Gummy Bear (voice): Amy Schumer
Bea’s Mom: Catharine Daddario
Young Bea: Audrey Hoffman
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.