Bea (Cailey Fleming) is going through a difficult time emotionally. We see her growing up with an ill mother (Catherine Daddario) who sadly does not win her battle and now her father (John Krasinski) is in hospital. Whilst staying at her grandmother’s (Fiona Shaw) New York apartment she discovers that she can see IFs. Imaginary Friends. Or more specifically those that have now been abandoned as their children have grown up. 

Upstairs neighbour Cal (Ryan Reynolds) can also see the IFs and is trying to help a purple fluff ball called Blue (Steve Carell) and a Betty Boop like ballerina butterfly (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) find new children to attach to. So Bea and Cal join forces trying to help the IFs. 

IF is the sort of film that you need to adopt the attitude of “just go with it” to find enjoyment from. There is plenty to nitpick in the framing of Bea’s difficult time of life and it’s a little difficult to grasp exactly what is happening with her father following her mother’s death. But the point is to try and grasp the wonder of the “what if” in life. The joy of the stories and innovation that the mind of a child can conjure. 

When the story finally results in Cal introducing Bea to a retirement home filled with IFs the film really takes off. The resulting experience is a joyful imagination filled extravaganza and it’s a shame that it is not followed up with a lot more sequences like it. 

The IFs themselves are wonderful. The computer animation is great and the variation of characters really fun. Whilst writer/director/star Krasinski proves himself to be well liked within the industry by pulling in a cavalcade of stars to do voice cameos including; Louis Gossett Jr., Awkwafina, Emily Blunt (his wife), George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Blake Lively (Reynolds’ wife), Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amy Schumer, Jon Stewart and hilariously Brad Pitt (you will see why when you watch it). A list that is frankly ridiculous. My favourite for what it is worth was Bradley Cooper’s Ice. 

The result is sickly, heart warming and fun in various measures. Whilst Krasinski, whose last films were A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II has managed to make a film that is part A Monster Calls, part The Sixth Sense and part Pixar feel good movie. 

Flawed but enjoyable.