IF

Stream on Paramount Plus

Runtime: 1 hour and 44 Minutes

Rated PG

After tragedy strikes, twelve year old Elizabeth stumbles upon an agency that helps retired imaginary friends, IFs, find new children to befriend. Elizabeth takes it on as her mission to help all retired IFs find new people. Along her journey the IFs help her more than she helps them.

Themes: “The most important stories we have to tell are the ones we have to tell ourselves.”

Imaginary friends, imagination, stories, family, death, loss, memories, growing up, cancer, surgery, being a kid, interviews, mentors, sickness/surgery, getting old, chasing your dreams, courage, comfort, being there for someone, safety, childhood, friendship, and love.

Language:

D*mn - 1 Hell - 1 Religious Exclamations - 16

Stuff to be aware of: “I'm not going to ask you again, Put some pants on, You're freaking everyone out.”

Gross - A marshmallow IF that is on fire has one of his eyes slide off, due to melting.

Sexual - An anthropomorphic apple is told she can cover back up. She wraps a blanket around herself. She is in an art studio where she is being painted by multiple characters. An anthropomorphic banana is told to put some pants on. These characters are just fruit with faces and limbs. There is no private parts seen. These lines/scenes are just for humor.

Scary - A girl looks through a keyhole and someone’s eye quickly can be seen on the other side which could create a jump scare.

Other - A child’s mother appears to have cancer and is in the hospital. She passes away off screen, but it is never mentioned or talked about. This story beat is left up to the audience to figure out. Later, the girl’s father is in the hospital, however he is just there for a surgery. There are several scenes that take place in a hospital and some of the residents are introduced.

Overall: “Keith! What kind of a kid creates an invisible IF?”

If you grew up watching Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and wished Hollywood would make a live action movie, this is the movie for you.

OR…

If you’re looking for a light hearted movie for family movie night, here ya go. This one is cute, has a creative spin, and an easy self-contained story (you won’t have to watch other movies or know anything special going in). I’m not sure why writer and director John Krasinski felt he needed to add two curse words in the script. The movie would have been just fine without them.

It’s a fun movie that will bring out all the “feels” and will touch your heart. While its not award winning it will put a smile on your face and a warm feeling inside.

Adults’ you may want to watch the first bits of credits. You’ll be amazed by the stars that lent their voices to this movie.