Creative, chaotic, confusing, and unabashedly sappy. We looked forward to seeing this collection of CG characters with recognizable voices provided by a lot of our favorite A-list stars. But we thought the pace and halting storyline bouncing from joy to depression might be a bit much for kids, even thought Writer/director John Krasinski was inspired to write this film after watching his daughters at play.
Krasinski amassed a collection of talent for this film, especially the talented young girl who plays Bea, (Cailey Fleming – The Walking Dead, Star Wars, The Force Awakens). She has lost her mother and her Dad (Krasinski) is in the hospital. The weakest part of the whole story is the development of the Dad. It’s never clear what his life threatening situation is. We only know that he’s pretty chipper in the hospital and just wants his daughter, Bea, to stay with her grandmother until he gets well. This story had some earmarks of a traditional Disney film with at least one parent absent with a child having to cope.
The premise is to let kids know that it’s perfectly normal to have an IF (Imaginary Friend, often stuffed animals) and that they don’t have to leave their IFs behind as they grow up. Cal (Ryan Reynolds) is a surly neighbor of Bea’s grandmother. His apartment is filled with IFs he’s trying to find kids for. Bea makes him realize that he shouldn’t be looking for new kids, he should be reconnecting them with their original kids.
The most prominent IF is the big fluffy purple Blue (Steve Carrell) who uses his improv chops to provide some clever repartée and some of the bigger laughs. But there are some fun moments with IFs played by Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, George Clooney, Richard Jenkins, Bobby Moynihan, Lewis Gossett, Jr., Jon Stewart, Awkwafina, Bradley Cooper and Sam Rockwell. But Brad Pitt goes a bit manic in his characterization of the invisible private eye.
Bea also meets Cal’s small and adorable sidekick and conscience, Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) who we find out later has a connection with Bea’s family. Many of the stories about the IFs and their past are very emotional, all by design, and some show it a little too much. But there are scenes that include Bea’s grandmother (Fiona Shaw) that hit well-played emotional chords. Shaw is dramatically charming, making the sequence heartfelt and nearly magical.
The artists and designers which here include Production Designer Jess Goncho and SFX supervisor Conrad, V. Brink, Jr. craft these imaginary characters, bringing them to life on the big screen. The animation of the characters is sometimes too frantic, but we do like how the eyes of the IFs were so expressive.
Cailey Fleming is in just about every scene and the film rises and falls with her performance. Although this film gets too syrupy towards the end, Krasinsky thought what the world needed now was a story about sweetness filled with lots of creative characters and imagination. It is, but, a little overstuffed.
Paramount Pictures. 1 hour 44 minutes. PG
Related posts:
Knives Out Writer/Director Rian Johnson talks about having the whole cast on the set
THE CAMPERS AT THE SUNDANCE PREMIERE OF CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THE FILM.
Ford v Ferrari Stunt Coordinator, Robert Nagle
Interview with Waves stars Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Taylor Russell and Writer/Director Trey Edward Shults talking teen angst, family and sound design.
Eddie Redmayne and Tom Harper talk challenges making The Aeronauts
MAIKA: The Girl from Another Galaxy
