John Krasinski's new film, "IF," was touted as a movie for "girl dads." On a viewing, however, it leans more towards a movie for adults figuring out parenthood than a fun outing for the kids. The attempt to create a film that carries overtones of matured sentimentality mixed with kid-friendly themes seems to have lost the plot, rather than creating a balance.
Despite a successful transition from comedy actor to a credible director with the "Quiet Place" series, Krasinski seems to have misfired with "IF." With a storyline resembling a weak Pixar adaptation, dabbling trauma, death, and resurfaced imaginary friends, the movie fails to explore any particular plot in depth, leading to a lackluster narrative.
The discovery that Krasinski's on-screen daughter, Bea, can see-imaginary friends - or IFs as the film names them - rapidly evolves into an unconvincing adventurous mission to save the fading IFs. Bea, dealing with her own grief after losing her mother and her father's heart condition, attempts to revitalize the IFs and bring back belief into children's lives.
This mediocre storyline seems to overshadow the actual character development, losing grip on the essence of the narrative. What could have been a whimsical, exciting adventure through imaginative playgrounds turns into a melancholy sob story that might leave children bored than excited.
The film targets a young audience while wrestling with more profound adult themes, resulting in lost opportunities for laughs and leaving viewers confused with the film's overall purpose.
The characters, both human and imaginary, often leave much to be desired. The IFs lack charm despite their diverse appearances, and overall, the performances failed to breathe life into the characters.
"IF" oscillates between a children's adventure film and a sentimental parent's journey with undefined narrative mechanics, missing the mark to captivate both audiences. It seems that Krasinski's well-intentioned attempt to frame a children's film with depth has unfortunately resulted in a lackluster story, failing to hit the right note for parents or kids.
