Jeri Jacquin

In theatres right now from writer/director John Krasinski and Paramount Pictures is a film that will become a family favorite when seeing IF.

Bea (Cailey Fleming) is a young girl who is dealing with her mother’s passing and now dad (John Krasinski) needs a heart surgery. That is a lot to deal with and the added bonus of staying with Grandma Margaret (Fiona Shaw) who hasn’t quite realizes that Bea is growing up. Visiting her dad at the hospital, Bea meets Benjamin (Alan Kim), a young boy who seems resigned to being in the hospital but tries to befriend her.

One evening coming back from a trip to the store, Bea sees a strange figure and is surprised to see it go into her grandmother’s apartment building. The next day she sees it again but this time in the company of a man named Cal (Ryan Reynolds). Following them she watches him come out of a window with a very big purple furry who calls himself Blue (voiced by Steve Carell) and she faints. Waking up, there Blue is again but this time the figure she saw introduces herself as Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge).

Bea learns that these creatures are called IFs (Imaginary Friends) who have been forgotten by their children and, you have to believe to actually see them! Grumpy Cal fills in the story and discovers that he has been trying to place the IFs with new children. Bea decides that she wants to help, but first, Cal has to take her to see the Memory Lane Retirement Home where other IFs live. There, she meets Lewis (Louis Gossett Jr.), a bear who wants to help Bea bring spice back into those who live there.

That’s when Bea gets the idea to start matching IFs with new children. After seeing her grandmother one day dancing to the ballet music of her youth, Bea realizes that she has been going about it all wrong. It is not the new kids the IFs need, but those who truly need to remember a time when the world was a wonderful place to be.

Fleming as Bea is a wonderful actress playing a role that is believable for both kids and adults. Trying to hide behind the “I’m a grown up now” façade to handle her grief and fear, her journey opens up the kid in her again and its very cool to watch. Krasinski as her father is a character all his own trying to keep his daughter’s spirits up with his unusual brand of humor. He is charming, goofy and, admittedly, made me laugh at his antics.

Reynolds as Cal portrays a grumpy guy who seems irritated with everything about the IFs shenanigans and his role in it all. Having Bea around gives him an opportunity to get out of the grumps and into doing good works with a bit of a smile on his face. Yes, Reynolds unique brand of sarcasm mixed with humor is here but playing second (third, fourth, fifth, sixth….) fiddle to IFs isn’t easy but he masters it well.

Shaw as Grandmother Margaret is just endearing and her dancing scene is just magnificent because, as a grandmother, I can relate. So beautifully done. Kim as Benjamin is an easy-going kid even though he has the bones that might not agree. I love his attempt at connecting with Bea but all I wanted for him is one thing – and you’ll find out what it is at the end of the film. We cheered for him so loud!

Carell as Blue is so dang cute, cuddly, sweet and full of heart but then again, I’d expect nothing less than adding his voice to him. Waller-Bridge as Blossom is equally sharp, doesn’t let Cal bother her in the slightest and polite in a very English-have-some-tea way. It is difficult to speak on the voice of the IFs because they are ALL brilliant, lovely, hilarious, heart-warming, cheeky, and I’d have them all home with me if I could. That’s how fantastic each character seemed to have been matched to a voice.

Other cast includes Liza Colon-Zayas as Janet, Catharine Daddario as Bea’s Mom, and Bobby Moynihan as Jeremy.

The voice characters are fantastically done by Awkwafina as Bunch of Bubbles, Emily Blunt as Uni the Unicorn, George Clooney as Spaceman, Bradley Cooper as Ice, Matt Damon as Sunflower, Bill Hader as Banana, Richard Jenkins as Art Teacher, Keegan-Michael Key as Blob, John Krasinski as Marshmallow, Blake Lively as Octopuss, Sebastian Maniscalco as Magician Mouse, Matthew Rhys as Crown Ghost, Sam Rockwell as Guardian Dog, Maya Rudolph as Plushie Alligator, Amy Schumer as Gummy Bear, Allyson Seegar as Viola, Jon Stewart as Robot, Brad Pitt as Keith, and Christopher Meloni as Detective Cosmo.

Paramount Pictures is the longest operating and remaining major studio in Hollywood that has been on the ground floor of every major development in film. From the advent of motion pictures to the emergence of television, through the digital revolution, Paramount Pictures has been there. During our 100-year history, they have served as the production site for thousands of notable movies and television shows. For more please visit www.paramountstudios.com.

So, my granddaughter had been wanting to see IF but, family plans, school etc., kept us away for over a week. Finally, over Memorial Day weekend and with her parents working, we decided to have a Naynay-granddaughter day and IF was on our list. We went to an early showing and popcorned up making way to our seats. We chatted, laughed and when the movie started, both my granddaughter and I were whisked away.

Now, that being said, we were laughing, jaw dropping and, at certain times, I looked over to see my granddaughters’ eyes watering. She, like her grandmother, needs a lot from a film to make tears happen but here she was with the water works turned on. She teared up from happy and teared up from very sad. Finally, I came to understand that she teared up because in this theatre she remembered her own imaginary friend that time had helped her forget.

When the film was over and we were walking to the car, she told me that she remembered her own IF and that she would never forget again. I shared with her about my own IF in the form of a pink elephant named Ollie (who I still have) and told her I owed him an apology and a good washing as well. That is what this film did for us.

Now, in the theatre, there were more sniffles than those of my granddaughter. That is what IF has accomplished. It brought families into the theatres with Dads, Moms, grandparents and the kiddies yes to see a film, but, more importantly, to remember something in our childhoods that has been forgotten. IF brought so many laughs (as Keith is now a member of our family) with memorable characters that, when the Bluray comes out, we are going to RUN out and grab.

Until then, little Uni is going to sit on my desk as a reminder that Ollie (after a good washing) now sits in a rightful place, in a comfy chair where I will see him every time I walk into the room. He deserves that much at the very least. Well done John Krasinski, and my granddaughter thanks you for Cosmo!

So this tells you everything you need to know about IF, gather up the family, gets lots of snacks, grab tissue and enjoy a film that is meant for all ages – and feel free to bring your own IFs.

In the end – this is a story you have to believe to see!

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