It takes a lot of friends to make something like “IF.” Or much of Hollywood owes John Krasinski plenty.
That’s what you conclude as, one by one, familiar voices check in as “imaginary friends” in the new family film.
Krasinski, who wrote and directed the fantasy, also stars as a father who’s going into the hospital for some vague reason. His daughter Bea (Cailey Fleming) is worried and, in the process of sorting things out, becomes acquainted with a big furry blob known as Blue (even though he’s clearly purple). Bob (who’s voiced by Steve Carell – see the connection?) explains that there are a lot of imaginary friends who no longer have contact with their “owners.” One by one, Krasinski introduces them – and their celebrity voices. George Clooney, Louis Gossett Jr., Phoebe Waller-Bridge and plenty of others turn up as everything from a glass of ice water (Bradley Cooper) to a unicorn (Emily Blunt). Ryan Reynolds checks in in a more human form as a matchmaker of sorts trying to pair human with imaginary friend. He’s a cranky sort (with stylin’ pants) who wanders a Wonka-like world under Coney Island.
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As Bea figures out what’s afoot, she seems to roam the streets of New York while her dad lingers in the hospital and her grandmother (Fiona Shaw) watches television. She befriends a kid at the hospital too and – spoiler alert – tries to hook him up with an IF.
Because there’s so much confusion at the beginning of the film (is this a drama about a dying dad?), “IF” quickly switches to a game of diversion as we see the cavalcade of characters and try to guess their voices. Yup, that’s Amy Schumer as a gummy bear, Maya Rudolph as a pink alligator and Gossett as a worn teddy bear. None of the guests get much screen time but their collective presence points to a more comforting whole.
Krasinski shakes the trees in terms of color and plays around on sets that suggest a more linear family film. (“Paddington” comes to mind, but it has a solid story.)
Dad, meanwhile, hits big in the beginning then disappears for long stretches of time while Bea learns the ropes of this new world and tries to cajole Reynolds’ character, Cal.
Memory Lane Retirement Community, where the IFs congregate, has its joys, too (even though you wonder if this is what the Motion Picture and Television Fund home is like). The place pops with creativity and seems like a way station until those matches are made.
Interestingly, Krasinski doesn’t dis imaginary friends and doesn’t say much about their shelf life. He does, however, lean into their benefits, particularly when scary situations arise.
As talented as she is (a dancer! A singer!), Bea doesn’t show her hand much during the tour of IF homes. She doesn’t seem too scared, either, but she’s very good at bringing flowers to the hospital.
On DVD, “IF” includes plenty of special features that help explain who played who, what happened and where the real stops and the imaginary begins. It’s an interesting “extra” journey that could help parents understand what it was that just unfolded.
Of the guest voices, Carell's is the most recognizable. Friendlier than his “Despicable Me” persona, Gru, he often sounds like Michael Scott when he homed in on a terrible idea.
There’s excitement here and, sometimes, that’s quite enough.
Movies in a minute with film critic Bruce Miller
Movies in a Minute: "Abigail"
Movies in a Minute: "Civil War"
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Movies in a Minute: “The Greatest Night in Pop”
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Movies in a Minute: Best Actress nominee Sandra Huller
Movies in a Minute: "Mean Girls"
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Movies in a Minute: "Blue Beetle"
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Movies in a Minute: Mid-year wrap-up
Movies in a Minute: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem"
Fans in Mumbai celebrate new Rajinikanth movie
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Movies in a Minute: “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”
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Movies in a Minute: "The Little Mermaid"
Movies in a Minute: “Fast X”
Movies in a Minute: "Book Club: The Next Chapter"
Movies in a Minute: “Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3”
Movies in a Minute: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."
Movies in a Minute: "The Covenant"
Movies in a Minute: "Renfield"
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Movies in a Minute: "Dungeons and Dragons"
Movies in a Minute: "John Wick Chapter 4"
Movies in a Minute: “Champions”
Movies in a Minute: “Creed III”
Movies in a Minute: “80 for Brady”
Movies in a Minute: "Challengers"
Movies in a Minute: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes"
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Movies in a Minute: "The Blue Angels"
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Movies in a Minute "Bad Boys: Ride or Die"
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Movies in a Minute: "It Ends With Us"
Bruce Miller is editor of the Sioux City Journal.
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