IF, aka Imaginary Friends, was an amazing kids movie that perfectly handled teaching kids and adults alike the serious topic of imagination. One of the problems faced by the younger generations today, as discussed in the movie, is the need to “grow up” faster than normal. This is most apparent when you see even the youngest generation Alpha walking around with Stanley cups, heavy makeup, and clothes that make them look at least 16, even if they’re only 10 years old. We, as members of Generation Z, are shocked at this, but we also take some part in it. Yes, we are young adults, and more is expected of us, but sometimes we tend to forget that we’re just kids. IF truly showed the importance of being a kid again.
The story begins with the slight mention of a young girl’s mother passing away from sickness. This leaves the girl, played by Cailey Fleming, with her father, played by John Krasinski. Fast forward in time, and the girl, Bea, is 12 years old. She visits her father in the hospital, and as he is joking around with her in a playful way, she asserts that she’s “not a kid anymore” and that he doesn’t have to sugarcoat negative things. She stays with her grandmother during that summer in her apartment. However, there are mysterious, colorful characters that run from shadow to shadow. When she finally notices them, they explain that they are “retired” IFs. They explain that when a child doesn’t need their imaginary friend anymore, they retire from their duties in search of a new child to accompany. They were even shocked that she could see them, as most people are unable to because they lack imagination. The IFs show Bea the place that they stay, known as the IF Retirement Agency, run by Cal (played by Ryan Reynolds). She sees that they need help finding children that need them before they are all forgotten, so Bea begins to assist the IFs in their journey.
The journey of finding children in need of companionship turns out to be a difficult one. One of Bea’s friends that she makes in the hospital seems to need one, so she develops a list of candidates for the job. As she brings them to him one by one, he cannot see any of the imaginary friends. This makes all of them sad, so Bea goes home. It turns out that the secret to matching the IFs was to return them to the adults that had first created them. This was done by reminding the adults of the joys they once had as kids, such as dancing or eating their favorite sweet treat. They were able to bring peace and lightheartedness back within themselves by imagining the joyful memory associated with their imaginary friend.
One of the main features that made this movie so good was how it showed the importance of keeping the child inside of you, despite some of the harsh realities of the world. Imagination is fundamental in life, as it shows that not everything should be taken seriously. As opposed to maintaining a stern facade, allow for playfulness to shine through and, most importantly, to have fun in life. Yes, there will always be certain things that must be taken seriously; that is part of growing up. But by maintaining a creative, optimistic mindset (such as that of a child), life’s experiences will be easier to handle. The blending of cartoon characters and live action is amazing, and I am excited to see more movies such as this one.
Overall, this movie is a must-watch, though some parts are a little emotional. IF inspires the adult audience to rediscover their inner child and shows the kids how important their imagination truly is.
