Writer, Director, and Star, John Krasinski discusses the inspiration behind his latest film, IF, as well as the incredible cast, including Cailey Fleming.
IF is a magical, whimsical, touching film about a girl named Bea (Cailey Fleming) who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends. She decides to use her superpower to embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.
Written and directed by John Krasinski, he also plays Bea’s father in the film, which he admits is heavily inspired by his children, and the most personal movie he will ever make. We sat down with him to discuss the incredible cast as well.
John Krasinski Talks IF Movie
What was the inspiration behind IF?
John Krasinski: The inspiration was my kids. I’ve always wanted to do a movie for my kids, but I wasn’t sure what. I had had the idea to do an imaginary friends movie, but I wasn’t quite sure what my take on it would be, because I didn’t want it to just be a silly movie.
And then, I spent hours and hours watching my daughter’s go into this magical world that, if you’re a parent, you know we’re not invited into. It wasn’t just the joy on their faces, it was the authenticity of who they got to be this fearlessness that they had of doing voices, and having tea parties, and dancing, and dressing up. There was such confidence in it.
Then, where I found my take on the movie, was the pandemic. So when the pandemic hit, they started doing fewer and fewer imaginary games. Their light almost looked like it was starting to go out and they started asking big questions. I could see the real world was seeping in and I said to Emily [Blunt], this is what growing up is.
That moment that you think you have to make a decision. Do I grow up? Or do I leave childhood behind? And I said to Emily, “That’s it. I’m going to make a movie about how you never have to make that choice.” That we all grow up, but we can all know that that magical world we created as kids always exists, and you can always go back.
John Krasinski Gushes Over Incredible Cast
I love the message that you always need someone in your corner, no matter your age. That scene with Bobby really got me.
John Krasinski: Oh my gosh, Bobby Moynihan for President. Are you kidding? That scene? I couldn’t believe it.
This whole cast is phenominal, but what was it about Cailey Fleming that made her the perfect Bea? She’s a star.
John Krasinski: She’s more than a star to me. She really is mind blowing this movie. Not only does she give an unbelievable performance, but she really pulls off a magic trick. And by that, I mean, she’s not just giving a performance that’s in a movie. She is a representation of all of us in that audience.
To the kids, she’s the kid that gets to play with all these imaginary friends and so you want to be her. But for adults, she’s your invitation back, she’s going through, Do I grow up or not? And I feel like as adults, we should be waking up every day saying, do I grow up or not? There’s room for that. And so she pulled off the impossible.
I will say, it was a weird turn of events where I remember I asked for a list of actresses. They gave me a list and it somehow printed out wrong. So the pictures were [tiny]. And even in this tiny picture, I saw this face, and I said to my producing partner, I said, “That’s who I wrote this movie for.”
And then I met her and before she opened her mouth, I knew she had the part. Then we did a couple of scenes, or we were supposed to do a couple of scenes, with Ryan [Reynolds] to just to get to know her, and I think we only did one scene and Ryan goes, “Can we go home because it doesn’t get any better than that.” And it’s true. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Do not miss IF when it hits theaters on May 17th.
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About IF
From writer and director John Krasinski, IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she does with that superpower — as she embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.
IF stars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, and the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell alongside many more as the wonderfully unique characters that reflect the incredible power of a child’s imagination.
IF comes to theaters on May 17th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.