IF

 

     John Krasinski wears multiple hats in this "family-friendly" film. He wrote it, produced it, directed it, is one of the producers, and even acts in it. Wearing all these hats, he takes on too much and creates uneasy tonal shifts and a story that doesn't quite gel. 

     Aiming for a return to the innocence of childhood imaginary friends (If's), the story shifts too much between the fantasy elements and the real world, where the film is grounded. Mr. Krasinski asks a lot of his audience to suspend belief and allow a 12-year-old girl, named "B", to wander New York City alone as well as the ability to see multiple "If's", not her own, without any explanation. The logic of the film dictates everyone has their own "If" but why can "B" see all of them?

     The film starts with the death of a mother and a father with a bad heart in the hospital. This is not exactly fun stuff and then quickly turns to the discovery of odd imaginary friends that may seem too bizarre and scary to young children. There is a subplot about another child in the hospital that is never really explored (is he a victim of parental abuse?). It's hard to tell exactly what age group Mr. Krasinski is appealing to. His IF's are all voiced by celebrity friends of Mr. Krasinski (I assume) and adults in the audience can amuse themselves trying to match the celebrity to the character. Good luck trying to identity Brad Pitt.

      On a positive note, the visuals are excellent, a combination of CGI and puppetry and the human cast does an admirable job, especially Callie Fleming as "B". Ms. Fleming is an adorable twelve year old, mature for her years. (She grew up playing Judith on "The Walking Dead", which will mature a kid very quickly). Her co-star Ryan Reynolds is his usual wise-cracking, fun loving self, albeit with a hint of sadness in his character. Fiona Shaw also co-stars as B's grandmother. Liza Colon-Zayas plays Janet, a hospital nurse and Bobby Moynihan plays an adult who has forgotten his "If"

      The three major If's in the story are voiced by Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Louis Gossett Jr. There is a nice post credit tribute to Mr. Gossett Jr.

      Ultimately the film has too many detours to it's central story and loses it's way, despite Mr. Krasinski's best efforts to emotionally tug at our childhood memories.