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* [[Jon Stewart]] as Robot, a toy robot
* [[Jon Stewart]] as Robot, a toy robot


[[Brad Pitt]] is credited as "Keith", an invisible IF, despite the character having no dialogue. The role is a reference to Pitt's cameo as an invisible character in ''[[Deadpool 2]]'' (2018), co-starring Reynolds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/if-john-krasinski-confirms-brad-pitt-plays-invisible-character-keith-exclusive-225432|title=''IF'': John Krasinski Confirms Brad Pitt Plays Invisible Character Keith (Exclusive)|date=May 14, 2024|first=Rachel|last=Smith|work=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|access-date=May 16, 2024|archive-date=May 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516013653/https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/if-john-krasinski-confirms-brad-pitt-plays-invisible-character-keith-exclusive-225432|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/if-incredible-deadpool-reference-you-almost-definitely-missed-2729355/|title=IF has an incredible Deadpool reference you almost definitely missed|date=May 18, 2024|first=Jessica|last=Cullen|website=[[Dexerto]]|access-date=June 15, 2024}}</ref>
[[Brad Pitt]] is credited as "Keith", an invisible IF, despite the character having no dialogue. The role is a reference to Pitt's cameo as an invisible character in ''[[Deadpool 2]]'' (2018), co-starring Reynolds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/if-john-krasinski-confirms-brad-pitt-plays-invisible-character-keith-exclusive-225432|title=''IF'': John Krasinski Confirms Brad Pitt Plays Invisible Character Keith (Exclusive)|date=May 14, 2024|first=Rachel|last=Smith|work=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|access-date=May 16, 2024|archive-date=May 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516013653/https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/if-john-krasinski-confirms-brad-pitt-plays-invisible-character-keith-exclusive-225432|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/if-ryan-reynolds-deadpool-easter-egg-brad-pitt/|title=''IF'': Yes, There's a Subtle ''Deadpool'' Easter Egg in Ryan Reynolds' New Film|date=May 17, 2024|first=Andi|last=Ortiz|website=[[TheWrap]]|access-date=June 18, 2024}}</ref>


==Production==
==Production==

Revision as of 17:32, 18 June 2024

This article is about the 2024 comedy film. For the 1968 drama film, see If....

IF
Poster featuring various creatures including a girl and man walking across a street.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Krasinski
Written byJohn Krasinski
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJanusz Kamiński
Edited by
Music byMichael Giacchino
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • May 17, 2024 (2024-05-17) (United States)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$110 million[2]
Box office$173.7 million[3][4]

IF is a 2024 American live-action animated fantasy comedy film written, produced, and directed by John Krasinski. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Alan Kim, and Liza Colón-Zayas, along with the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., and Steve Carell. Its plot follows a young girl and her neighbor who find themselves able to see imaginary friends.

Development of the film began in 2019, with Krasinski set to write and direct and Reynolds attached to star. The rest of the cast joined between October 2021 and January 2022, and filming took place in New York City between August of that year and May 2023. IF was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures in the United States on May 17, 2024. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed over $173 million worldwide.

Plot

Twelve-year-old Bea moves into her grandmother Margaret's apartment in New York while her father waits for heart surgery in the same hospital where her mother died of cancer years earlier. She chafes against his playful antics, insisting she can handle the situation with maturity. One night, Bea goes out to buy a charger for her mother's old camcorder and sees an unfamiliar creature, following it back to her grandmother's building. The next day, she sees the creature again, accompanied by a man. Bea follows them to a nearby house where the man, Cal, retrieves a large furry purple creature named Blue. She also meets the other creature, a butterfly-like being named Blossom, and faints. She awakens in Cal's apartment where she learns that he has been working with imaginary friends, nicknamed IFs, to place them with new children as their original children have grown up and forgotten them. Initially reluctant, Bea eventually decides to help Cal.

The next day, Cal takes Bea to Memory Lane Retirement Home, a retirement community for IFs housed underneath a swing in Coney Island. There, he introduces Bea to Lewis, an elderly teddy bear who is the head of the facility. He inspires Bea to use her imagination to redesign the facility, much to the chagrin of Cal. Bea tries to match one of the IFs with Benjamin, a young patient at the hospital. She, Cal, and Lewis audition the IFs, but he is unable to see any of them. Feeling unmotivated, Bea talks with Lewis on the Coney Island pier. He gives her an idea that maybe IFs do not need new kids, but rather to reunite with their old ones.

Talking with her grandmother, she sees a picture of her as a young dancer and recognizes Blossom in the background of the picture. Realizing Blossom was her grandmother's IF, Bea decides to test Lewis' idea. Playing one of her grandmother's records inspires Margaret to dance and she remembers Blossom, instilling Bea with hope. Following a tip, Bea, Cal, and Blue find Blue's original kid, Jeremy, now a grown man trying to launch a business. By eating a fresh croissant in front of Jeremy, Bea reminds him of his childhood home above his parents' bakery; Jeremy remembers Blue enough for Blue to give Jeremy the confidence he needs for a business presentation.

That evening, Bea arrives at Margaret's to find her hastily preparing for a return to the hospital because there's been a complication with her father's treatment. Bea rushes upstairs to Cal, who comforts her. When Bea says she does not want to say goodbye to her dad, Cal advises her to tell him a story instead. At the hospital, a nurse reassures Bea that her father will be all right. She tells him a story about realizing she was pushing herself to act like a grown-up when she's just a child who still needs her father. He wakes up and they hug each other. When Bea goes outside his room, she sees that all of the IFs are gone.

Bea goes upstairs to thank Cal, but no one answers his door. The landlady shows Bea that the door opens into an old storage room. After her dad is released from the hospital, he and Bea pack up to go home. Bea finds an old picture she painted of herself, her parents and a clown named Calvin. She suddenly realizes that Cal is her own IF, forgotten after the death of her mother. She thanks him for helping her and tells him she'll always need him. This allows Bea to see Cal and the IFs again, and they reunite. After Bea and her father drive off, Margaret asks Blossom if the two of them should go inside, causing Blossom to realize Margaret can see her.

Some time later, Cal begins reuniting the IFs with their original kids, now grown up. Benjamin meets his IF, a cartoonish dragon with glasses. Bea and her father return home.

Cast

Voices

Brad Pitt is credited as "Keith", an invisible IF, despite the character having no dialogue. The role is a reference to Pitt's cameo as an invisible character in Deadpool 2 (2018), co-starring Reynolds.[5][6]

Production

In October 2019, Paramount Pictures outbid Lionsgate and Sony, among other studios, to win the rights to Imaginary Friends, a project developed by John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds, with Krasinski set to write and direct it.[7] In May 2021, Krasinski's Sunday Night Productions and Reynolds's Maximum Effort signed first-look deals with Paramount.[8][9] In October 2021, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fiona Shaw joined the cast.[10] In January 2022, Steve Carell, Alan Kim, Cailey Fleming, and Louis Gossett Jr. joined the cast, with the film retitled IF. The film reunites Krasinski and Carell, who both starred in The Office (2005–2013) as Jim Halpert and Michael Scott, respectively.[11] In August 2022, Bobby Moynihan was added to the cast.[12] Principal photography began on August 31, 2022, with Janusz Kamiński as cinematographer, and wrapped by early May 2023.[13][14] Framestore provided the visual effects and animation.[15][16] Animation director Arslan Elver and VFX supervisor Chris Lawrence worked alongside Krasinski on set and during pre- and post-production.[17][18] The film is dedicated to Gossett Jr., who died before its release.[19]

Music

Michael Giacchino composed the score for the film.[20][21] The film’s soundtrack includes Tina Turner’s "Better Be Good to Me" and the “Adagio for Spartacus and Phyrigia” from Aram Khachaturian’s Spartacus.

Release

IF was released by Paramount Pictures in the United States on May 17, 2024,[22] after its originally scheduled release date of November 17, 2023 was first pushed to May 24, 2024, and then shifted forward by one week.[23]

Reception

Box office

As of June 16, 2024, IF has grossed $101.1 million in the United States and Canada and $72.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $173.7 million.[4][3] Variety estimated the film would need to gross $275 million worldwide in order to break-even.[24]

In the United States and Canada, IF was released alongside The Strangers: Chapter 1 and Back to Black, and was originally projected to gross around $40 million from 4,041 theaters in its opening weekend.[25] After making $10.3 million on its first day (including $1.8 million from Thursday night previews), weekend estimates were lowered to $30 million. It went on to debut to $33.7 million, topping the box office.[26] In its second weekend, the film made $16.8 million (a drop of -53%), finishing third behind newcomers Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and The Garfield Movie.[27] In France, the film made $3.3 million during its opening weekend in 621 cinemas.[4]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 49% of 188 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "A sweet ode to rediscovering one's inner child, IF largely works as old-fashioned family entertainment despite an occasionally unfocused and unnecessarily complicated plot."[28] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 46 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[29] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it an 84% overall positive score, with 64% saying they would definitely recommend it.[26]

Adrian Horton of The Guardian awarded the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing that it "checks the boxes" on the elements of a family-friendly movie, but also noting that it does not "fully conjure the magic" of other films in the genre.[30] Another mixed review was published on NPR by Bob Mondello, who wrote that "mostly the filmmakers detour, decorate and digitize their story rather than telling it, and that doesn't mesh well with the real-world stuff — dad's surgery, for instance, and Bea's wandering all over Brooklyn without her grandma seeming to notice. And yes, I know: IF is a kid-flick, but it still needs grounding. We're in Brooklyn, not Willy Wonkaland."[31] RogerEbert.com reviewer Clint Worthington called the film "a well-intentioned misfire".[32]

Tomris Laffly of Variety wrote that the movie was "in desperate need of some coherent world-building", while praising the performance of Cailey Fleming in the lead role.[33] In a more negative review for The Hollywood Reporter, Frank Scheck criticised the film as "plagued by significant tonal shifts and pacing issues".[34]

Noah Berlatsky of Chicago Reader was even more dismissive, stating, "IF makes you wish you were watching some other movie. (...) There's a fine line between the whimsical dream logic of Roald Dahl and irritating, incoherent nonsense. Director John Krasinski's new kids film IF is nowhere near that line. Despite the best efforts of the extremely talented child actor Cailey Fleming, IF makes no sense, narratively, emotionally, or visually."[35] Several critics noted the film's sharing some similarities with the Cartoon Network animated series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, which itself featured an orphanage that takes care of imaginary friends after their kids outgrow them and they leave after other children adopt them.[a]

Notes

  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[36][37][38][39][40]

References

  1. ^ "IF (U)". BBFC. April 25, 2024. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  2. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 14, 2024). "John Krasinski & Ryan Reynolds' 'IF' To Give More Lift To Summer Box Office With $40M Opening – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "IF – Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "IF (2024)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  5. ^ Smith, Rachel (May 14, 2024). "IF: John Krasinski Confirms Brad Pitt Plays Invisible Character Keith (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Ortiz, Andi (May 17, 2024). "IF: Yes, There's a Subtle Deadpool Easter Egg in Ryan Reynolds' New Film". TheWrap. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  7. ^ Kit, Borys (October 15, 2019). "Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski Teaming for Fantasy Comedy Imaginary Friends (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 3, 2021). "Ryan Reynolds And His Maximum Effort Banner Sign First-Look Deal With Paramount Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  9. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 11, 2021). "John Krasinski And His Sunday Night Banner Signs First-Look Deal With Paramount Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  10. ^ McClintock, Pamela (October 28, 2021). "Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fiona Shaw Join John Krasinski's Next Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 25, 2022). "Steve Carell, Alan Kim, Cailey Fleming & Louis Gossett Jr. Join Paramount And John Krasinski's IF Starring Ryan Reynolds". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  12. ^ Kroll, Justin (August 29, 2022). "Bobby Moynihan Joins Ryan Reynolds In IF From John Krasinski and Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Krasinski, John [@johnkrasinski] (August 31, 2022). "Beautiful day to kickoff a movie! #IF" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Kroll, Justin (May 2, 2023). "How WGA Strike Could Impact Movies Gearing Up For Production". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "IF". Framestore. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Imaginary Friends ARE Real in IF Teaser Trailer". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "You are being redirected..." Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  18. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (February 5, 2019). "Visual Effects Society Awards: Avengers: Infinity War Wins Top Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 6, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  19. ^ Burr, Ty (May 15, 2024). "'IF' is a flight of fancy that doesn't take off". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  20. ^ John Krasinski [@johnkrasinski] (January 17, 2024). "… I think I found my IF. @m_giacchino @ifmovie". Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Instagram.
  21. ^ Piña, Christy (May 11, 2024). "John Krasinski on Getting Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds to Join 'IF': 'Most Yeses of My Career'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 23, 2023). "Mission: Impossible 8 Jumps To 2025; A Quiet Place: Day One Goes To Summer In 2024 Theatrical Shake-Up Due To Actors Strike". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  23. ^ Murphy, J. Kim (July 19, 2022). "Paramount Sets A Quiet Place: Day One and John Krasinski-Directed Ryan Reynolds Film IF for 2024". Variety. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  24. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (June 12, 2024). "Why Does Hollywood Care About Box Office Opening Weekends?". Variety. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  25. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 14, 2024). "John Krasinski & Ryan Reynolds' IF To Give More Lift To Summer Box Office With $40M Opening – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  26. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 19, 2024). "'IF' Rises To $34M+, 'Strangers: Chapter 1' Strong At Near $12M, 'Back To Black' Goes Belly-Up At $2.8M – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  27. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 25, 2024). "'Furiosa' Up In Smoke With $31M-$33M, Lowest Memorial Day Opening In Decades, Might Get Clawed By 'Garfield': How Worried Should Hollywood Be About Theatrical? – Saturday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  28. ^ "IF". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 13, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  29. ^ "IF". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Horton, Adrian (May 15, 2024). "If review – John Krasinski's so-so, sentimental family fantasy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  31. ^ Mondello, Bob (May 16, 2024). "'IF' only! These imaginary friends are sweet, but could have been so much more". NPR. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  32. ^ Worthington, Clint. "IF movie review & film summary (2024)". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  33. ^ Laffly, Tomris (May 15, 2024). "IF Review: John Krasinski's Ryan Reynolds-Starring Children's Tale Has a Classical Look, but Messy World-Building". Variety. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  34. ^ Scheck, Frank (May 15, 2024). "IF Review: Ryan Reynolds Leads a John Krasinski-Directed Family Film That's Easier to Admire Than Enjoy". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  35. ^ Berlatsky, Noah (May 17, 2024). "Review: IF". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  36. ^ Bibbiani, William (May 15, 2024). "'IF' Review: John Krasinski's Kid-Friendly Fantasy Rings Mostly Hollow". TheWrap. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  37. ^ Loughrey, Clarisse (May 16, 2024). "IF review: John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds aim (unsuccessfully) for Spielbergian wonder". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  38. ^ Tyler, Adrienne (December 17, 2023). "John Krasinski's New Comedy Is Oddly Similar To An Underrated Kids Show From 19 Years Ago". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  39. ^ Stenzel, Wesley (April 24, 2024). "Steve Carell and John Krasinski have an Office reunion in new IF promo". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  40. ^ LaMarche, Lee (January 14, 2024). "John Krasinski's IF Looks Eerily Similar to Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
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