After discovering she can see everyone’s imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.
Review
John Krasinski’s IF is a family-friendly film focused on the rediscovery of childhood imagination as a young daughter who has gone through scary moments in life realizes she can see everyone’s imaginary friends. It is fair to say that Hollywood has put out far less family-friendly entertainment than in the past, so there is an audience for this type of film. In that sense, IF has a very narrowly focused target audience that will enjoy the film but even then, there are a few issues with it.
The story is too complex for its younger audience members and at times loses focus on its point and journey leaving viewers to wonder whether it was trying to go elsewhere or got lost in its imagination. Krasinski plays the father, a goofball in his own right, and does everything he can to keep his daughter smiling through the hard times. Reynold’s appearance in the film is unlike his typical roles. His comedic elements are muted and unnatural leading to an awkward character portrayal.
Still for the father-daughter crowd or those with early teen kids who want something simple, magical, and a notch or two above completely kid-focused, IF can provide some fun family entertainment. We would recommend you wait for streaming.
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