In this cinematic world that’s filled with super-buffed action heroes and CGI’d simians, there’s not a lot on offer that parents can enjoy with their young kids. That’s what actor-turned-filmmaker John Krasinski (the A QUIET PLACE films) was thinking a few years ago when his own kids were at that tender age. It’s why he set about to write, direct and appear in his own family-friendly film called IF.

Twelve-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming, TV’s THE WALKING DEAD) has come to New York City to stay with her grandmother while her father (Krasinski) is in the hospital to undergo a heart operation. Not long after she arrives, she meets Cal (Ryan Reynolds, FREE GUY), her grandmother’s reclusive upstairs neighbour. Cal and Bea have something in common — they both can see IFs, which stands for Imaginary Friends, some of whom live in Cal’s apartment. Bea learns that the children who created these IFs have grown up and the IFs have now been forgotten. With nowhere to go, the IFs now reside at a shuttered amusement park where Bea’s parents used to take her when she was a child. Bea decides to find new children for the IFs but she soon discovers that it’s not as easy as she thinks it’s going to be. IFs are quite unique.

Leaving aside all the script problems that only adults will notice, and boy, there are some doozies, IF pretty much succeeds in doing what Krasinski had intended. My audience was filled with kids and with the exception of one 3-year-old sitting not too far from me who vocalized her strong dislike for the loveable, furry monster, Blue (yes, Blue is purple), most of the 7- to 10-year-olds appeared quite happy with what they had just seen. IF is not just a story about growing up and leaving your childhood behind though. It’s also a story about coping with loss. Krasinski, unfortunately, puts a heavy coat of gloss over this part of his tale, which is somewhat strange given that kids today are exposed to the death of a loved one far more often and far earlier in their lives than they did when I was that age. Perhaps his target audience includes 3-year-olds.

Krasinski stacks his voice cast with a who’s who of Hollywood A-listers including Steve Carell, Krasinski’s wife Emily Blunt, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Awkwafina, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Amy Schumer, Jon Stewart and many more. Louis Gossett Jr., who passed away in March, voices the elderly teddy bear. The acclaimed actor still has four movies that are due to come out so this isn’t the last time audiences are going to see or hear him on screen. Be sure to read the cast credits at the end of the film for an amusing surprise.

I rarely mention costume design unless it’s something really special, as it is in POOR THINGS, but the decision to dress Bea like a 47-year-old suburban mom who shops at Target was a strange one. Sure, she no longer wants to be considered a child but clashing patterns and high-waisted drawstring pants? There is one scene where she dresses age-appropriately — a T-shirt, hoodie and jeans — but that’s it. I think I know what Krasinski was trying to achieve with Bea’s costuming (I’d say but it would be a spoiler) but it doesn’t work.

IF opened in Hong Kong yesterday (May 15th) and rolls out around the world this weekend. It’s far from being brilliant but if you’re looking for a safe film to watch with your pre-teen kids, you can do worse than this one.

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