User Reviews

Went to see an early screening of IF with my wife and son last night. The cinema was practically empty with only a few other families there? The film despite being 2024 was not the modern fast constant attention providing obvious story that films have now often now become for children . IF slowly develops , it draws you into its world and developing your care or wonder about it's characters. That adults too became invested in this is a film for multi generation and works on more levels than expected.

Overall It hit and pleasently entertained the younger children but then something magical happened as the film developed towards it end. Without spoiling it I saw around me the adults rubbing tears from cheeks. Grandparents suddenly holding tighly hands closer and i got it . Well it got me ! This film started to evoke strong emotions about a child's film I had not felt since those Coco or the ending of AI or toy story 3 days. This film touches you.

The screenplay and cinematography are excellent I need to see it again but the layers of this film make it a U universal (suitable for all)

The majority of this film I was questioning this film, I won't lie. The messaging seemed all over the place, the target demographic similarly seemed to vary scene to scene. There were a bunch of grin inducing moments and some good laughs, but I was frustrated by the film's lack of commitment to answers or internal logic, why certain things are important etc. I was very impressed with some of the acting, John Krasinski and Fiona Shaw are delightful in particular and the stacked cast is a wonder of "I know that voice" all of which are charming. But it seemed the key function of pairing imaginary friends with kids to be a very child friendly line. The way it takes it in reality is far more adult while still being a little confusing. I got about 70 minutes into this film and started wondering why, if anything other than a 1 sentence summary John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds had said this was a live action Pixar film.

The ending and the subsequent hours of reinterpretation and pondering leave me in awe of its execution. I still think there are problems, and scenes that feel very haphazard in some ways, and I still feel some bewilderment over a film that takes 90% of its run time to come into its own. It's a fantastic twist, and similar to Gone Girl (an odd but apt and well considered comparison given that to mention any others would constitute a spoiler) is one of the best examples of a twist impacting your entire viewing experience, I've ever seen. Everything crystallises and the amount you get from it as a young adult increases exponentially-I can only wait and look forward to how its meaning and poignancy will change throughout the rest of my life as the best Pixar films do.

This was a visually stunning and whimsical movie. It had a star studded cast with Ryan Reynolds, John Krazinski and Steve Carell. In fact it could have done without a star playing the dad I thought, as this detracted from the emotional opening scene. The movie felt boring at times for the first two-thirds, despite the interesting concept of the story; I think it lacked suspenseful direction in the plot development. Ryan Reynolds had about three great funny moments, all of which are in the trailer, and it's a shame he wasn't able to bring a bit more of this well known personality into the film throughout. The last third was definitely the highlight of the movie and did get more exciting and definitely heightened the emotion of the movie.

I must admit, the first half hour had me questioning if I was wasting my time. I was confused about the vast demographics the film was trying to appeal to. Maybe there could've been some improvements there.

Once the 2nd act started, I slowly started to find myself more and more invested in the characters. However, I was still questioning potential plot holes in the story and the films demographic.

During the 3rd act, it really tied itself together and started to make a lot more sense. I want to rewatch it knowing how well it ends, similar to a Christopher Nolan film. I'm curious what a child would think of this film because it deals with some adult themes and subject matter that only an adult would relate to. It isn't crude, it's very family friendly. A child might find it slow and boring at times. The moral of the film might go over a child's head but there's plenty of humour and subject matter aimed at children.

Overall, I was very impressed with this film, and I'll be watching it again. Take your kids to it. If they don't enjoy it now, it'll definitely have a completely different meaning to them in 10, 20, or 30 years. As an adult, you'll almost definitely enjoy it.

Harmless and wholesome family fun. Pretty simple and heartfelt story for the kids. It has some great cast members mostly with the voiceovers but they are in it, not as much as I'd hoped but they are there. It's a very imaginative film with a few cool fantastical scenes, particularly the dance number in the imaginary place. Reynolds didn't really shine as much for his personality and wasn't as funny in this but still a good presence. Cailey (the girl) being from the walking dead too seems to be doing well for herself being put in a Krasinski and Reynolds movie. Sometimes the film lacks and the story gets weak in the middle but overall you can understand it. The ending is probably the best part as it has the most weight to it and emotion about what imaginary friends are and what they do and mean for us. Also a nice little surprise of an ending if you didn't see it coming. Overall just a good family film but could've been a bit better.

My youngest daughter wanted to see this, it has Ryan Reynolds in it, so I thought "what the heck". Man I did not anticipate that I would be a bumbling crying mess at the end of this film.

I wouldn't say this is a kids film, it's more of a film for adults who still have that child still inside of them, but they lost their way when they grew up and became adults. This is a movie for the child inside all of us, that still has that glimmer of hope.

John Krasinski seems like a big child, and that's basically what he was playing in here. I don't mean that in a negative way, I find it very endearing because you don't see that a lot anymore in people.

I really liked seeing the imagination of the little girl in here, but as I stated this is a HEAVY movie, so some things kids may not enjoy in here. When we got out of the movie I asked my daughter "did you like the movie?" and she said "yeah, it was funny and sad". I would have to agree with her assessment.

I would say that if you have a child that has trouble concentrating or sitting still, then they will be miserable in this. This is definitely targeted more for adults.

I'm offering a huge standing ovation to John Krasinski and the entire cast of IF! This movie is magical, heartfelt, beautiful, and the kind of film that will stick with you forever. The casting is perfect.

I am a 48 year old mother of two, and all three of us left the theater with a sense of awe and wonder. I am also a mental health therapist, and I can clearly see how this movie can Serve as a highly effective tool for use in groups, as well as individual therapy. This is the type of material that illicit emotional responses that can set the stage for highly effective individual and group process. It is one that I will be incorporating in my own professional practice, and I encourage other therapists to do the same

For the teachers, this film would be a wonderful addition to social emotional learning programs. The message of the magic of childhood, resiliency, and community is undeniably effective.

I cannot wait for this movie to be released for purchase because I will be buying it on day one and re-watching this over and over again. I will confidently go so far as to say that this movie is the Mary Poppins of the day.

After the 1st viewing, I was delightfully surprised at how strong the story is, since what I expected from the trailer was a fun and colorful children's adventure film. But I was deeply touched by the characters and couldn't stop pondering the plot.

Then after the 2nd viewing, I discovered the complex psychology of the story. I saw many little clues that I missed the first time and they led to a new interpretation of everything, which gave me many Wow and Aha moments. Also knowing the twist gave me totally new emotional experience watching the characters' reactions in different scenes.

My kids as well as I have thoroughly enjoyed the humor, the creativity, and the wonderful visual. For kids it's a perfect imaginative story with a huge twist and a happy ending. For adults, it possesses layers exploring the psychology of the character and it's a bitter-sweet, yet very satisfying emotional journey.

It's an entirely original story, which is rare and precious among big-budget films with an all-star cast.

The last thing I want to add from my perspective as an artist is that the character design and animation is top-notch. It's not the established Pixar style, but feels very original while fitting the narrative perfectly.

This film was advertised as a very creative kids animated movie, and it is that in parts, but very slow and lots of drama, perhaps more for Parents? Parents, bring tissues, you will cry. Folks who arent parents might not get much out of this. Problem I have with this film; What grandparent would let a 12 year old go to Coney Island every day solo from Manhatten, without communicating until dinner time?!? There is not one phone in this film, Not in this day and age. Some parts of this film are very trippy, well animated, and when its in that zone it is super fun, but it gets back to drama, and there are parents both dying and sick, and it is a tearjerker at 3 points in the film, including the opening credits. Young kids will be bored, preteens will be entertained enough. I asked my 11 year old if he ever had an imaginary friend and he said no, I said me neither. He said it wasnt bad but he was expecting more animation. This could have been better with less hospital and more roger rabbit style scenes. They made a high budget well made drama with excellent cgi animation. It has lots of Heart, 6/10.

Just Got Out of a Screening of IF.

Such a Perfectly Calibrated Film Across All of the Aspects Of the Filmaking.

🏠📜 The intro, Build & Plotline - The opening "Shows you" and doesn't "Tell You" of the Tragedy. And then the rest of the build of the film is so well put together in this Slowly unfolding manner, about the IFs, the Plotline with Bea and her Role with the IFs, and also the Plotline of Bea and the Tragedy that hit her and then another trial(with the father) that is shaky and unsure of the outcome. The Reveal of Cal and what he was all along. It's just so good.

🎵 The Score - Again, another perfect calibration, Firstly, we have the Tone of the Score which exactly fits this particular film, and then Secondly we have the Use of the Score, Perfectly Placed When Needed and this Score NEVER outstays it's welcome.

😢The Tone of the Film - There's this Underlying Tone of Sadness Steeped within that's present throughout the Entirety of this Film. That's the Main Contents of the Tone, With Fits and Starts and Glimmers of Happiness.

💭 Imagination Segment - This was such a Great Segment, the Part when Bea Is told by the Bear to Use Her Imagination to Create Anything she wanted and Ryan Reynolds' character is constantly on the ropes 🤣😂 through the hallways and so on. It was Such an Excellent Segment.

💃The Dance Segment with the Grandmother - Such a Beautiful Segment, knowing her Story, and her describing the lighting and dust particles Whilst dancing when she was a Child and seeing her relive that Moment and Reconnect with her IF was Great to See.

🙋The Performances - Cailey Fleming who is Very Good Here, Ryan Reynolds, again Very Good, and then we have John Krasinski who certainly adds to the film.

🎭The IF designs - I really liked Blossom 🌼 and her Voice, Blue was ok 💜, and I really liked many of the Designs, Sunny 🌞, Unicorn 🦄, Robot🤖, Bubble💦, Art Teacher 🎨, Spaceman🌌, Ice Water🚱, Magician Mouse 🐁. All these particular Designs Mentioned, I really liked them.

💬 - The Speech that Bea Gives near the Very End in the Hospital. It was so Emotional. There were at least 2 people Sniffling in the Auditorium from what I could hear.

Overall, The Emotional Core Within the Film was So Strong.

Really hoped that this would become known as a family classic. I took two thirteen year old boys and both thought it was average at best. Effects are good but there was a serious lack of jokes. A film that will not live long in the memory. Cast is great, film also looks great but there was no sense of excitement at any point. Quite flat throughout the whole film. Felt like the film is aimed at children under ten but I think that age group will also struggle as it just has no magic. Needed alot more jokes, less schmaltz and some excitement. Waste of a very good cast. I really did want to love this film.

I was expecting more. Great cast and promotion but the movie falls flat. It's very very slow in the beginning. The end was cute and heartwarming. Not much in the middle. Should have moved faster and been a little more funny. Depending on the day you could fall asleep in this movie.

Great idea but not put together well. I do not think children would like this movie. Maybe older kids. It barely kept my attention as an adult. Now that I reflect on this movie I'm not sure who the target market is. It's just an ok movie. Will maybe watch one more time with my kids at home when it hits streaming but I wouldn't waste money seeing it in theaters.

It's mainly fun for the kids. Adults will get some fun out of it because of the actors and mostly Reynolds' performance. But overall, definitely for the kids. I really enjoyed the imaginary friend sequences, and some of the jokes landed. I feel like some of the acting is a little underwhelming but it definitely isn't too noticeable.

A very interesting and well done ending too. It's a perfect and smooth flow throughout the movie. The kids will enjoy it overall, but there are some SLY but near none adult jokes and references. I think the casting is also well done but I wish they introduced some newer actors to show off what they're capable of. But the child actors in this are REALLY GOOD!

The movie isn't perfect still. It definitely has some unanswered elements but it is a solid watch for the family. 6.7/10.

Imaginary Friend is a movie likely to appeal to kids and some adults as well. I admit the movie has an interesting concept which could have been made a bit more interesting and happening than it turned out to be.

John Krasinski teamed up with his old pal Ryan to make this family friendly movie after A Quiet Place but the movie takes quite some time to take off and mashes up what could have been a more fun and action filled fantasy adventure rather than just an emotional rollercoaster.

Some of the IFs imaginary friends, although colorful and happy, could have been used a tad more and could have made this movie more adventurous and funnier than it turned out to be.

It's not often that a film, especially an effects heavy Hollywood film, surprises me in a positive way.

IF presents teenager Bea encountering a group of IFs (Imaginary Friends) who have been forgotten by their now grown up kids. This certainly evokes themes explored in Toy Story 3, but is sufficiently different to work.

While there are no major surprises plot-wise in this film, it does deliver an unexpected amount of emotional weight. The backstory of the mother is mostly implied rather than shown, and the relationships are subtly portrayed rather than hammering us over the head.

Ryan Reynolds is suitably charismatic, but subdued (in a good way). The voice acting it top notch. And Cailey Fleming in the lead role manages to carry the film convincingly.

I took my 10 year old granddaughter to watch this last night, May 12th. No idea what to expect, but Wow! Instantly one of the best films of this genre I've ever seen and I've seen a lot with my kids and grandchildren. Amazing effects, great story and so well acted and scripted, it felt so real. Sad and uplifting in equal measures, an emotionally charged film but in such a nice, believable way. Oh, and the soundtrack/score from the very start of the film was was superb too, matching the emotions perfectly. Take handkerchiefs, we both needed them. No spoilers here. I simply recommend to go see it. 10/10.

I was really excited for IF from previews. Good cast and a ton of potential to be a legendary kids movie. I think where this movie struggles is that it can't figure out if it's supposed to be a kids movie or an after school special about dealing with trauma and grief.

Another area that was annoying was in casting. Ryan Reynolds and Steve Carell are just really unable to be anything else in a movie. The same snark (no swearing) from Reynolds. Dude really just needs to stay in the Deadpool lane. Carell essentially was a big, purple, fluffy Gru.

The first 45 minutes were really rough. I'm not sure I heard a kid in my theater laugh until about 35 minutes in. Then it found a kids movie footing and I thought it might end strong. It almost stuck the landing, but then it just wanted to dive back into after school special territory.

I didn't hate it. It just isn't really the kind of movie that it's billed as.

Pros:

• A stellar cast with some good performances by both adults and children. Along with a legendary voice cast that will have you checking the credits at the end of the movie.

• Some good moments of fun that are mixed in with some heartfelt moments that will bring back your childhood.

Cons:

• The plot is very over complicated (especially for a family movie) that will have both parents and kids scratching their heads at times.

• Besides a few scenes, the film lacks a lot of imagination and creativity which contradicts the film's message.

• The special effects used on the IFs comes off as flat instead of popping off the screen.

IF had plenty going for it with a great cast and good looking visuals. However upon watching IF, there's alot behind this film than just family fun.

First of all, the acting was decent, particularly of the lead actress. There were some funny moments but I did expect a few more.

The music was brilliant and expertly suited the film's themes. The IFs themselves were unique, well voiced and entertaining throughout.

There were also alot of heart warming moments.

Overall this is definitely worth a watch and I might have to go see it again as I'm sure there's things I missed on the first viewing. Go watch it at the cinema!

This was the most Pixar non-Pixar film I've seen in quite some time! "If," directed by and starring John Krasinski, presents a unique story about a young girl who, after a difficult experience, begins to see everyone's long-forgotten imaginary friends. It's an inventive concept that's handled with a mix of whimsy and serious, adult themes. Krasinski's involvement as director, writer, and actor clearly shows, signaling a deep personal connection to the project. Ryan Reynolds also stands out, bringing a layered performance that adds depth and a bit of humor to the film with his usual charisma.

Despite its creative strengths, the film struggles a bit with balance. It attempts to weave together light-hearted elements with more substantial, heavier topics, and at times, this mix feels slightly uneven. However, "If" remains deeply heartwarming and comes across as a genuine exploration of the complexities of growing up. The performances by Krasinski and Reynolds are especially noteworthy, each bringing their own charm and emotional weight to the narrative. Although it's not without its flaws, "If" is a thoughtful, engaging film that strikes a chord with anyone familiar with the bittersweet process of moving on from childhood.

We took my 5 year old nephew who was waiting patiently for somthing good to happen, after 30 minutes he left with my partner whilst I stayed to watch the remaining of the film with my sister. They film had a nice story but was very slow. It was a massive shame as its aimed at audiences of all ages, if it had a few bits of adult humor and was aimed at am older audience it would have been much better of a watch. I hate giving bad ratings especially for a Ryan Reynolds film as he is one of my favourite actors.

The acting was very good by all invomved, however the story was a massive let down to the movie experience.

Let me start by saying that I do agree with a lot of the reviews which state that the ending was the best part, and it did evoke an emotional response from me. That being said, the middle part of the movie was soft spoken and boring. There was never any real antagonist in the story or major plot development. The same imaginary characters were recycled throughout the film and there was only one brief instance where the true imaginative power of our female protagonist is unlocked. I felt like they dwelled too much on grief. I Kill Giants and Who Framed Roger Rabbit are much better! Disappointed to say the least.