Alright, let’s dive into IF, the latest flick that had all the potential to be a heartwarming tale but ended up stumbling over its own premise. Before we get too far in, I must say, I had hopes. Not high hopes, but hopes. With a unique concept and a cast that included Ryan Reynolds, you’d think this film would be a surefire hit. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
IF introduces us to the world of imaginary friends (IFs) and the impact they have on the people who create them. Sounds intriguing, right? Sadly, what starts as a promising setup quickly turns into a muddled mess. The concept is great, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
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| Image by FirstShowing.net |
The Good
Let’s start on a positive note: Cailey Fleming, who plays Bea, did a remarkable job with what she was given. Her portrayal of a girl caught between childhood and adulthood was nuanced and believable. She brought a sense of maturity to her role while still managing to capture the innocence of being a kid. It's a shame the script didn’t support her more because Fleming's performance was one of the few bright spots in this otherwise lackluster movie.
And I have to give a nod to the special effects and cinematography. The visual representation of the IFs was creative and fun to watch. The scenes where invisible friends interact with the world had a certain charm, at least the first couple of times they showed it. There’s a lot of visual storytelling potential here that, unfortunately, was squandered.
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| Image by CNBC |
The Bad
Here’s where the wheels start to come off. The writing, oh boy, the writing. For a film that hinges on the magic of IFs and the innocence of childhood, it missed the fundamental storytelling rule: show, don’t tell.
Take, for example, Bea’s character arc. Early in the movie, she declares she’s not a child anymore, and a bit later, she’s back to being a kid again. By the end, during a hospital scene with her father, she once more admits she's only a kid. That moment could have been a real emotional punch if the movie had consistently shown her struggle with growing up throughout. Instead, it felt like the writers were throwing character development darts at a board, hoping something would stick.
And then there are the jokes. Falling over an invisible IF? Funny the first time. The third or fourth time? Not so much. It felt like the script was stuck on replay with these gags, hammering them into the ground until all the humor was drained out.
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| Image by Digital Spy |
The Ugly
The plot threads... or should I say, the lack of cohesive ones. The film loved to set up intriguing elements and then just... abandon them. There’s talk of a witch down the hall, Bea’s attempts to re-match IFs with their original creators, and the looming threat of IFs disappearing if forgotten. All these ideas are tossed around with little to no payoff. The script hints at stakes but never really explains or resolves them, leaving you scratching your head more often than not.
Speaking of the ending – predictable from the first ten minutes. Now, predictability isn’t necessarily a bad thing if the journey there is compelling. But here, it felt like the writers took a shortcut and skipped any real build-up. They make a big deal about how adults can’t see IFs because they’ve forgotten them, but suddenly, everyone can see them again without any real effort or explanation. A montage showing the IFs doing something meaningful to reconnect with their creators could have been gold. Instead, the film takes the easy way out, undermining its own message about the power of memory.
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| Image by ABC News |
Final Thoughts
IF had all the ingredients for a touching, imaginative story. But like a recipe gone wrong, it ended up as a disappointing dish. The concept was there, the performances, particularly by Cailey Fleming, had potential, and the visuals were appealing. Yet, the poor writing and lack of character development turned what could have been a heartwarming tale into a frustrating experience.
Overall, I’d give IF a 4 out of 10. Not the worst movie out there, but definitely not what I expected from a project involving Ryan Reynolds. If only the script had been as magical as the imaginary friends it portrayed, we might have had something special on our hands. Instead, IF is a reminder that great ideas need solid execution to truly shine.
Pros:
- Cailey Fleming’s performance as Bea was a highlight.
- Visually interesting, with creative special effects.
- The concept of IFs had a lot of potential.
Cons:
- Poor writing and lack of character development.
- Repetitive jokes that quickly lose their charm.
- Numerous plot threads are introduced but never resolved.
- Predictable and unsatisfying ending.
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