IF: John Krasinski's Heartwarming Take on the Comfort of Childhood Imagination

By John Kirk

Rating: A-minus

Imaginary friends. Where do they go, and why do we still need them? IF is a feature-length live-action/animated answer to those questions.

It’s a story about imaginary friends (aka “IFs”) and what happens when children grow up and no longer believe in them. It may sound corny and trite, but there’s a real message behind this film that explains why so many of us “grown-ups” have difficulty dealing with the outside world and all of its problems.

We just need a friend – even one that nobody else can see.

Imaginary-Friend guide Ryan Reynolds, teddy (voiced by Louis Gossett Jr.) and Cailey Fleming

The story: 12-year-old Elizabeth, or Bea (Cailey Fleming) was raised by doting parents who gave her a childhood that never lacked for childhood imagination and fun.  But now she has to deal with the prospect of her father (John Krasinski) facing his own mortality as they return to New York for a crucial heart surgery.

After losing her mother years before, Bea adopts a stoic and mature attitude to her father’s operation that runs counter to the child-like and fun-loving demeanour of her loving dad. Staying at the home of her grandmother (Fiona Shaw), the place of so many childhood memories, Bea revisits the places where she used to play in her grandmother’s apartment building and runs into Calvin (Ryan Reynolds) who acts as an intermediary and sort of a caretaker for forgotten imaginary friends. She agrees to help him place these friends with new kids. And the fun begins.

IF is a delightful escapist fantasy that reaches deep into the hearts of the audience by invoking childhood memories. Of course, the question that Blue (Steve Carell) brings up about the nickname of the friends, “What IF…?” is a question that taps into the hearts of grown-up children everywhere.

After all, wouldn’t it be wonderful if there actually was an imaginary friend from our childhood who could give us that confidence and comfort that we need to face the trials and tribulations of the adult world?

Kids get through life with a resilience that amazes people. Despite the worst trauma thrown at them, they can survive because the nature of being a child, their ability to escape into fantasy, offers some protection from the worst that life can deliver. They’re emotionally stronger than adults in some ways, and perhaps that’s because adults have forgotten those comforting memories. The imagination and fantasy that a child generates through play and make-believe is a power many adults have discarded.

While the film wraps itself in endearing and cutesy comedy, there is an underlying mental health message that resonates strongly. An imaginary friend is someone a child creates who is the ultimate comfort, a companion who unconditionally accepts and supports you. And such support is lacking for a lot of us.

Ryan Reynolds is obviously the big-name draw, but the film ultimately rests on the unexpected and soundly successful talents of Cailey Fleming. She’s the undeniable talent that stands out in this story. Not only can she dance, she can deliver a believable maturity that young actors sometimes lack. She’s capable of making an audience both laugh and cry with a solid level of emotional performance.

Not that the cast isn’t impressive. Krasinski pulls triple duty as performer, writer and director, and he has assembled an incredible cast of voice talents. While it would be fun to list everyone who contributed their talents to the film, it’s a lot more fun for the audience to identify the voices, beyond those listed above. However, it is important to note the inclusion of the late Louis Gossett, Jr., in the role of Lewis, the mentor/imaginary teddy bear who gives guidance to Elizabeth in understanding her role as an intermediary to the IFs. It’s a joy to hear his voice again.

Although there is a bit of predictability in this film, its strength lies in its emotional impact. It successfully taps into issues affecting both childhood and adulthood, making it a family film by definition. This relatability is key to the suspension of disbelief. In fact, because it so artfully pulls this off, the reveal at the end is an acceptable surprise, despite the left turn from the ending we’ve been guided into wanting.

Any way you look at this film, Krasinski has given us a story that is entertaining and hopeful, a child-like voice which is mirrored in the script itself when his character asks for a story from Bea.

As a true family film, IF checks all the boxes.  It’s funny, meaningful and has a diverse, multi-talented cast of cameos that will elicit an emotional response from the audience. It’s the type of film that should elicit conversation relatable to both parents and kids. Imaginary friends are a common childhood concept but their appeal lasts throughout generations.   

I’ll get you started: Who was/is your imaginary friend?

IF. Written and directed by John Krasinski. Starring Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, and various star voices. Opens in theatres May 17.