IF releases in theaters on May 17th, 2024.

The combination of animation and live-action always leaves me somewhat apprehensive about going into any film that ventures into this hybrid method of storytelling. From the ease with which it generates a sensation akin to the uncanny valley to the potential lack of tonal control, movies like IF will always be a massive risk that, at worst, could spoil an otherwise wonderful experience. Nevertheless, the simple fact that John Krasinski (A Quiet Place) is at the helm as both writer and director gave me some security and confidence.

IF‘s premise is simple yet interesting. Bea (Cailey Fleming) is a girl who finds herself capable of seeing imaginary friends abandoned by other children. In a journey filled with important life lessons, Bea embarks on a magical adventure to reunite the IFs — get it? — with the now-adult people whom they helped during their respective childhoods.

IF Critique

Despite going in with previous knowledge of the cast, premise, and Krasinski himself, I still didn’t anticipate more than a formulaic story aimed at a predominantly young audience. But lo and behold, IF surprised me in practically every aspect, leaving me in utter shock — and emotionally drained — with a narrative much more complex than initially expected. In fact, while children will naturally enjoy the several entertaining moments scattered throughout the film, adult viewers will leave the cinema with a contemplative aura and watery eyes.

Starting with the aforementioned pre-viewing worry, IF is one of the few hybrid flicks where the blend of 3D animation with real characters and sets — aside from one or two more “magical” set pieces — achieves remarkable efficiency. Throughout the 104 minutes of runtime — perfect duration and pacing — the visual effects are seamlessly incorporated into a real world that feels so genuine that viewers will easily forget that, around the screen, there are many animated characters, each with their own distinct personality and an imaginative origin story created by the respective child in the past.

With this potential issue out of the way, IF then drops the emotional hammer and hits right in the heart of every viewer with a narrative packed with sensitive, quite heavy themes, addressed through extremely touching moments but also via fun sequences. Krasinski once again showcases his talent behind the camera.

As a writer, he delves into his subject matters with captivating plot and character developments, concluding with beautiful, reflective messages about how life isn’t always pure fun, but it doesn’t hurt to try to make it lighter and brighter. Just as the day we become adults and gain other responsibilities is inevitable, there are also moments where “being a child” allows us to deal with life’s most complicated obstacles in a healthier and happier manner.

As a director, Krasinski translates his vision to the big screen effortlessly, allocating the necessary time and space for amusing entertainment — with special mention to an incredibly fun, lengthy dance sequence with impressive set and costume changes — but also for very stirring, dramatic scenes, namely Fleming’s monologue towards the end of IF, which compelled me to use my sweater sleeve to wipe away the many tears shed.

And this is where I transition to much-deserved praise, one that I hope will come true in a few months during awards season. Fleming delivers what is currently the best young performance of the year, as well as the biggest breakthrough of 2024.

As a fan of The Walking Dead, I admit the mistake of thinking that the actress would be nothing more than an adorable little kid. This blunder is now corrected due to her outstanding performance, revealing extraordinary charisma, an infectious smile, and genuinely astonishing dramatic chops – that powerful monologue is just the culmination of a pretty complete performance.

Occasionally, Krasinski fails the actress with somewhat silly, overly childish Q&A lines for Bea, but overall, Fleming’s interactions with the rest of the cast are consistently engaging. Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) presents himself as less “Ryan Reynolds” than usual, often being the most “boring” element on screen — a casting choice surely deliberate considering the actor’s fame for portraying exaggerated variations of his own public persona.

Krasinski has little screen time but shines every second he appears. Finally, IF has the additional bonus of leaving the audience trying to guess the numerous hidden cameos behind the voices of the animated characters. Then, there’s the significant impact of the score. Typically, I stay until the end of the credits to get a sense of the artists who contributed to the movie, but for reasons beyond my control, I couldn’t do that with IF. 

So, it was only when I started writing this review that I realized Michael Giacchino (The Batman) was the composer. And suddenly, everything made sense, because only one of the greatest composers of all time could create music rich and inspirational enough to elevate a film like this. It’s the icing on a tear-filled cake, tears from an entire audience moved by Giacchino’s gorgeous melodies.

Honestly, I don’t find any major issues with IF. It follows a familiar structure with a certain degree of predictability, but every step is executed with commendable technical prowess and narrative authenticity. It’s safe to say: “Krasinski did it again”!

In Conclusion

IF is a delightful surprise that exceeds personal expectations. The skillful blend of 3D animation and live-action brings creativity to a layered, profoundly moving narrative, which explores sensitive themes in a truly genuine, reflective manner while successfully conveying a crucial message about the importance of never forgetting the child within us.

Cailey Fleming delivers the best young performance of the year, further enhancing the already highly emotional story, much like Michael Giacchino’s lovely score. As a writer-director, John Krasinski once again demonstrates his innate talent by creating a movie all families can enjoy and cry together. It will linger in the audience’s memory for a long time.

8/10

Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.