IF lands soft Rotten Tomatoes rating after first reviews
IF has landed a soft rating on Rotten Tomatoes following its first reviews.
The new kids' movie from John Krasinski follows a young girl called Bea (Cailey Fleming) who starts to see abandoned imaginary friends, and teams up with neighbour Cal (Ryan Reynolds) to reunite the orphaned 'IFs' with their former kids.
After getting a positive early reaction from fans, the critical consensus on IF has been more mixed, landing a 52% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Related: John Krasinski addresses Pixar similarities in new movie IF
While there has been praise for the movie's emotion, some critics have suggested it lacks a "strong narrative" and "fun".
Here's what reviewers have been saying:
Digital Spy
"Ryan Reynolds' new movie IF not only fills a much-needed space for original family movies at the box office, but it does so with a wonderfully touching combination of laughs, tears and adorable furry creatures."
The Times
"IF is a children’s fantasy of wistful wonder and another satisfying chapter in the career of the actor/film-maker John Krasinski."
Empire
"Far from perfect in its execution, but once IF hits its stride, Reynolds and Fleming keep this emotional adventure entertaining enough."
The Guardian
"For a film that very much bills itself as a comedy, particularly through the lovable and literally bumbling character of Blue, IF is fairly short on actual laughs. Instead, it settles by the end into misty-eyed, mostly earned sweetness, with the evergreen lesson of remembering love and playfulness as you grow up."
Deadline
"IF serves as a testament to the power of imagination, but it also highlights the necessity of a strong narrative to support even the most creative ideas. Despite its charms, the film’s saccharine sweetness and slow pace render it a less engaging experience than it aspires to be."
CNN
“IF does make the case for finding the fun in life, but in a movie that needs to be more fun than it is."
The Independent
"It’s intended to be disarmingly sincere – yet the director-writer-actor is so single-mindedly intent on delivering 'wonder' that what he’s ended up with isn’t so much a film but a series of emotional cues. It’s the same experience, really, as sitting down to watch an hour-and-a-half video loop of dogs being adopted."
IF is out now in cinemas in the UK and Ireland.
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