Lisa Johnson Mandell’s IF review says writer/director/producer/star John Krasinski creatively brings some of the sweetest parts of childhood to the forefront, helping viewers experience the magic once again.

Did you have an imaginary friend (I.F.) when you were little? Close your eyes and think hard—try to remember. Children often create IFs when they feel lonely, unloved or frightened. “It is considered a normal and even healthy part of childhood play,” according to Healthline.

But what happens to those imaginary friends when the children who created them become adults? Could the adults’ lives be enhanced if they could still see or feel those IFs? Feelings of loneliness, being unloved or frightened don’t just magically disappear as we grow older, you know.

These questions and more are explored in John Krasinski’s wildly creative and original IF, a film that will move and delight adults and children alike.

IF review — an original premise

Not a sequel, prequel, reboot or adaptation, the ambitious IF sprang solely from Krasinki’s wondrous imagination. The originality is refreshing.  It’s the story of Bea, a 12-year-old girl who is dealing with her father’s imminent life-threatening medical procedure. She inadvertently discovers that IFs still exist after children become adults and forget them, and that she can see them all.

A mysterious and tense gentleman by the name of Cal (Ryan Reynolds) helps her explore how to best use this unique power, and introduces her to a colorful menagerie of IFs, yearning to get back into action.

Writer/director/star Krasinski had full license to select the actors of his choice to voice the numerous CGI IFs that populate the otherwise live action world. And so he chose Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett, Jr., his wife Emily Blunt, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Sebastian Maniscalco, John Stewart, Awkwafina, Richard Jenkins, Bobby Moynahan, Christopher Meloni, Sam Rockwell, Keegan-Michael Key, Mathew Rhys and Amy Schumer.

Half the fun for adults is knowing whose voices have been cast, and trying to peg them with their characters.

Karasinski also cast himself, Cailey Fleming, Liza Colón-Zayas, (The Bear), Fiona Shaw and the adorable Alan Kim (Minari) in live action role, each bringing their own exceptional brand of talent.

Then he went for many of the best production professionals in the business: music by Michael Giacchino, cinematography by Janusz Kaminski, production design by Jess Gonchor, costume design by Jenny Egon and many, many talented filmmakers.

Put them all together and you have a new family classic. After drying my eyes and leaving the theater, I couldn’t wait to go home and try to remember the love and light my own childhood IFs brought to me, and also to relive the calming warm fuzzies they provided. Remembering the goodness in our childhoods is indeed healthy…and sweet.

Thank you, John Krasinski, for bringing those back once again.

Rated PG

1 Hour 44 Minutes

If this IF review encourages you to skip out to the local cineplex, find tickets and times at Fandango.com.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s IF review says writer/director/producer/star John Krasinski creatively brings some of the sweetest parts of childhood to the forefront, helping viewers experience the magic once again.