Written and directed by John Krasinski, “IF” follows Reynolds’ character and a young girl (Cailey Fleming) who, per the film’s synopsis, “discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends” and “embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.” Judging by the trailer and the “IF” footage presented earlier this year at CinemaCon, Krasinski’s fantasy movie has something of a classic Amblin vibe, combining family-friendly humor with, potentially, more poignant themes about growing up and the loss of childhood imagination. Given Krasinski’s previous efforts as a director on the first two “A Quiet Place” films, it’s possible “IF” will also have a darker streak than this trailer suggests. Failing that, this might just be the unofficial live-action movie adaptation of “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” we’ve been waiting for!
Bobby Moynihan, Fiona Shaw, and Alan Kim join Reynolds, Fleming, and Krasinski in the “IF” cast, with Steve Carrell, Louis Gossett Jr., Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Jon Stewart, Maya Rudolph, Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, and Christopher Meloni among those either voicing the various “IFs” or playing their now grown-up kids. The movie will open in theaters on May 17, 2024, two weeks after “The Fall Guy” kicks off what is shaping up to be an unusual and even kind of exciting spring/summer blockbuster season after the dual actors’ and writers’ strike forced Hollywood to dramatically change up its original slate for next year.
