Do you ever look back on your childhood and marvel at the boundless imagination we had as kids? How we could turn a pile of blankets into a fortress, create a fictional world in our backyard, or befriend an invisible pal?
Now, imagine if these fantastical realms and magical beings you made never actually disappeared and instead have been waiting around for you to remember them.
In the upcoming summer, family film IF, this magic is front and center, and those creative daydreams become a reality—making the impossible become, well, possible!
From the creative mind of writer and director John Krasinski, IF follows Bea, a young girl who discovers she has a special power to see all imaginary friends (a.k.a. IFs) ever created. As she embarks on a fulfilling quest to match these forgotten pals with new kids, Bea and her newfound friends venture out on an exciting adventure of imagination and self-discovery.
Backed by a cast of comedy gold like Ryan Reynolds and Steve Carell, this charming, live-action animated film is full of laughter, heart, and a much-needed reminder that the magic of childhood wonder is never truly lost.
Moms and dads, get the popcorn buckets (and tissue packets!) ready because IF is going to be the perfect, family-friendly flick to kick off summer.
A magical adventure for all ages
In the heartwarming tale of IF, a girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) experiences some hardships when she discovers she has a unique gift of seeing imaginary friends, called IFs for short. But Bea isn’t the only one with this special power; Cal, who is played by the ever-so-witty Reynolds, also shares this special ability.
Unsure of what to make of this gift, Bea teams up with Cal to help these former companions after they’ve been forgotten by their original kids who grew up. This leads the duo to go on a match-making adventure that’ll unite each IF with a new kid who also needs friendship and comfort.
Throughout their journey, we see the true power of believing that anything is possible and the ultimate joy of tapping into one’s creativity and imagination.
Laugh out loud with this star-studded cast
Adults and children are in for quite the comedic treat, as IF boasts a lineup of Hollywood’s finest like never seen before. With Reynolds leading the charge as cheeky Cal and Krasinski taking on a triple-threat role as writer, director, and Bea’s lovable Dad, the movie already promises everything we’ve come to know and love from their past performances.
But the movie doesn’t stop there. Adding to the star power are Fiona Shaw as the wise Grandmother, Alan Kim as a curious boy named Benjamin, and a host of talented comedians lending their voices to the colorful mix of imaginary friends, like Steve Carell as the super huggable Blue and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the delightful Blossom.
With Emily Blunt, Blake Lively, Awkwafina, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Keegan Michael-Key, Sebastian Maniscalco, Maya Rudolph, and Amy Schumer rounding out the stellar voice cast, IF is sure to be a hilarious cinematic experience.
Inspiring lessons on imagination, belief & self-discovery
We love a family film that’s loaded with relatable life lessons and themes, and IF surely doesn’t disappoint. As Bea tackles her journey alongside Cal and a supportive group of IFs (like a flaming marshmallow, a life-sized gummy bear, a completely invisible pal named “Keith”, and a robot), she learns the beauty of unlikely friendships, but most importantly, rediscovers the magic within herself.
Audiences of all ages (we’re especially looking at you, grown-ups) will also appreciate the gentle reminder that sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination to see the extraordinary that exists around us. And when life gets hard or if we get caught up in the mundane day-to-day tasks of life, we must remember that our hopes and dreams never leave us; we can always go back to them to bring out the spark inside of us.
Experience nostalgia, heartfelt moments & family fun
Nothing beats a family movie loaded with feel-good moments and jokes parents can appreciate. IF delightfully blends nostalgia (calling all of the adults who fondly remember their own IFs, like myself!), heartfelt scenes, and family-friendly humor to evoke the power and joy of embracing our childhood wonder.
The movie also touches on the impactful message about the importance of love and connection, which Bea experiences as she forms new bonds with all of the IFs. Of course, adding to the film’s appeal is the witty dialogue and playful antics that result from an impressive cast coming together on the big screen.
Don’t miss out on the chance to see the world in a whole new way this summer! IF hits theaters on Friday, May 17, so set your calendar reminders and snag your tickets early.
To keep the creativity flowing at home, kids can draw their very own imaginary pal and bring it to life through this special IF generator website that’ll make their creations come to life!
