Your favorite imaginary friend is coming to streaming. “IF” starts streaming on Paramount+ on July 9.
Released in May, the movie tells the story of a young girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) who is going through a difficult time because her father (John Krasinski) is hospitalized. But Bea has a special ability: she can see her imaginary friend, just like her neighbor Cal (Ryan Reynolds). Together, the two work to reunite kids with their long-lost imaginary friends (IFs for short).
“IF” was written and directed by Krasinski, the filmmaker switching genres after the huge success of horror films “A Quiet Place” and “A Quiet Place Part II.” Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney and Jon Stewart lend their voices to the characters of IF.
The film received mixed reviews from fans and critics, earning a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 88% rating from audiences. It grossed less than expected at $33.7 million during its opening weekend, but has since grossed over $185 million worldwide.
In Variety’s review, film critic Tomris Laffly wrote, “It’s almost as if some imaginary figures were conceived with little consideration for their narrative purpose, and baked into the script just because they felt cool as ideas. Like many of the film’s attempts at humor, the animated characters fall flat, in desperate need of some coherent world-building.”
George Dewey, John J. Kelly, Andrew Form and Kimberly Nelson all served as producers on the film. Music by Michael Giacchino.