IF Movie is an enchanting tale that focuses on family and childhood wonder. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
IF movie releases in theaters across the United States tomorrow, May 17, 2024. The film stars Cailey Fleming (Bea), Ryan Reynolds (Cal), John Krasinski (Dad), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Blossom), Fiona Shaw (Grandmother), Steve Carell (Blue), Louis Gossett Jr. (Lewis), Alan Kim (Benjamin), Liza Colón-Zayas (Janet), Emily Blunt (La Licorne), Awkwafina (Octocat), Blake Lively (Octopuss), and Matt Damon (Sunny). The film was written and directed by John Krasinski. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
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IF Movie Parents Guide Review
In IF movie: After discovering she can see everyone’s imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.
IF Movie Age Rating Parents Guide Review
Let’s take a look at what concerned parents need to know about the age ratings of the movie before letting their younger audiences watch IF Movie.
Language: IF Movie does not contain strong language, but silly humor words like butt.
Mature Content: The biggest lookout in the film is some of the action, thematic elements, and death. The film begins with a very sad sequence about a young girl who loses her mother; this could be very triggering for some viewers. The father is also in the hospital and about to undergo a surgery, which seems dangerous, but it is never elaborated on. There are some dangerous situations characters are placed in and slower moments that may lose the attention of some young audience members.
Age Rating of the Movie IF: Paramount Pictures IF movie rating has a PG rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA rating) for thematic elements and mild language, and the parental guidelines advisory recommends it for mature audiences, an older audience, an adult audience, younger viewers, young adults, little kids, older kids, and teens aged 8 years and older. The suggestion of parental guidance or a legal guardian (adult guardian) for this restricted PG category is highly suggested for young children, teenage children, and young kids under 8 years of age in this PG-rated motion pictures for adult material. The minimum age recommendation is 8 years old.
Overall Thoughts
Set in the present day, IF movie tells the story of a young girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) who moves in with her grandmother while her father played by writer/director John Krasinski is the hospital awaiting heart surgery. Already having had her mother pass away at the same hospital a few years earlier weighs heavily upon her. Bea is not amused by her father’s attempts at levity concerning the situation, insisting that she is grown now and no longer a little kid. Soon Bea notices some strange figures roaming around the area and follows them to an apartment in her grandmothers building. There she discovers some IF’s and a man named Cal played by Ryan Reynolds. IF stands for imaginary friends, which Bea quickly discovers they are holed up there having been forgotten as the children that invented them have grown up. Cal is trying to help them find new kids to give them purpose once more. Ryan does a great job of capturing the whimsical elements needed for such a role, and Bea soon enlists herself to help them on their quest.
IF movie is an exploration of childhood imagination and the bittersweet transition to adulthood. It’s a charming and emotional journey about the power of friendship and the importance of holding onto a bit of magic. Krasinski’s background in comedies like “The Office” shines through in the humorous moments, and it’s nice to see a bit of change up from his most recent directing choices in the horror genre. This is his first foray into children’s movies, and although kids will enjoy IF, there are some adult themes that could be a smidge off-putting to the youngest. Adults, however, will really enjoy the journey, likely coming away with a sense of satisfaction thanks to the heart-warming nature of the film.
IF movie is very reminiscent of a show with a similar plotline. Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends was a cartoon that aired in the mid to late 2000’s about a foster home for imaginary friends. They were sent there having been forgotten by their children with the hopes of being adopted by new kids. Both IF movie and this show had characters named Blue, even though the spelling is different. I wonder how much this TV show played into Krasinski’s ideas for the IF script. While not an outright rip-off, it would be difficult to see how fans of the show would not draw comparisons as I have. Be that as it may, IF movie really engages audiences of any age, and with excellent voice over performances by Steve Carrell and the late Louis Gossett Jr. in addition to the live action cast there is something for everyone to enjoy
