Actor-director John Krasinski’s animated tale of an anxious tween and her make-believe buddies is not in Pixar’s league, but it boasts a heartfelt sweetness and an engaging young star
What if imaginary friends didn’t vanish into the murk of forgotten memories as soon as the child who conjured them grew up? What if the invisible bestie lingered on, trying hard not to be wounded by the rejection and waiting in vain to be of use once more? If that sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The central premise of American actor-director John Krasinski’s If – his first family film after the horror movie double of A Quiet Place and its sequel – is borrowed from several Pixar films.
There’s an obvious parallel with the subplot of Bing Bong in Inside Out. A heartbreakingly cheerful pink cat/elephant/dolphin mashup in a too-small top hat, Bing Bong...
What if imaginary friends didn’t vanish into the murk of forgotten memories as soon as the child who conjured them grew up? What if the invisible bestie lingered on, trying hard not to be wounded by the rejection and waiting in vain to be of use once more? If that sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The central premise of American actor-director John Krasinski’s If – his first family film after the horror movie double of A Quiet Place and its sequel – is borrowed from several Pixar films.
There’s an obvious parallel with the subplot of Bing Bong in Inside Out. A heartbreakingly cheerful pink cat/elephant/dolphin mashup in a too-small top hat, Bing Bong...
- 5/19/2024
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
John Krasinski proudly makes movies for and about the whole family. Maybe his vastly successful “A Quiet Place” franchise, with all its screechy monsters, is too much for youngsters to handle. But there’s still an undeniable, innocent loveliness to those movies, with warm moments that lean closely into the bonds of an adoring family that only grow stronger in the face of danger and despair.
So it’s perhaps no surprise that Krasinski’s latest sets its sights on a tale that this time is genuinely for kids, and not just their parents. There are no bloodthirsty brutes in the live action-animation hybrid “If,” a sweetly old-fashioned yet messily conjured children’s tale that sadly falls short of its thematic ambitions. Instead, it has oddly endearing creatures that represent a child’s wild imagination, overeager to show up and save the day for the people who envisioned them once upon a time,...
So it’s perhaps no surprise that Krasinski’s latest sets its sights on a tale that this time is genuinely for kids, and not just their parents. There are no bloodthirsty brutes in the live action-animation hybrid “If,” a sweetly old-fashioned yet messily conjured children’s tale that sadly falls short of its thematic ambitions. Instead, it has oddly endearing creatures that represent a child’s wild imagination, overeager to show up and save the day for the people who envisioned them once upon a time,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Tomris Laffly
- Variety Film + TV
The sequel to the Oscar-winning 2015 film, Inside Out 2 is coming to theaters on June 14, 2024, as we have reported earlier. The first film became a beloved hit and although it took Disney some time, the sequel is very close to its premiere and fans are eagerly awaiting to see the new story with a larger plethora of emotions. As we know, most of the characters from the first film – including the main emotions – are coming back, and will be joined by numerous other characters who will make their debut in the sequel. But, there is one burning question that has been bugging fans for some time – could Bing Bong be coming back for the sequel?
As you might remember, Bing Bong’s story was one of the saddest moments of the first film, in which the character supposedly died. Now, Disney is not really known for killing off characters in such a way,...
As you might remember, Bing Bong’s story was one of the saddest moments of the first film, in which the character supposedly died. Now, Disney is not really known for killing off characters in such a way,...
- 5/12/2024
- by Arthur S. Poe
- Fiction Horizon
The majority of Pixar films are not to be watched without tissues. From the furnace farewell in Toy Story 3, to the ‘Married Life’ sequence in Up, to the ‘Remember Me’ scene in Coco, the studio tends to have one hand placed firmly on your tear-ducts. And that’s not to mention Inside Out, perhaps the most emotionally effective of any Pixar film. The ‘death’ of Bing Bong, the first foray through young Riley’s mind, the reconciliation of Joy and Sadness… it’s a non-stop heart-squeezer. And that’s a tough act to follow for this year’s Inside Out 2, following Riley through puberty as a raft of new emotions – chiefly Anxiety, plus Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui – come into play.
According to incoming writer Dave Holstein, the newly-developed ‘Belief System’ in Riley’s mind isn’t just a cool environment for the sequel to explore – it’s going...
According to incoming writer Dave Holstein, the newly-developed ‘Belief System’ in Riley’s mind isn’t just a cool environment for the sequel to explore – it’s going...
- 5/7/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - Movies
Throughout the years of its existence, Pixar has repeatedly proven that its films are not only for children — with all the deep philosophical narratives and some truly heartbreaking scenes the studio’s franchises have also become favorites among the grown-ups.
And though Wall-e or Up are usually considered the saddest stories that Pixar has ever created, there’s another particular character’s storyline which sounds even more devastating — until it comes to a fan’s viral theory.
The Inside Out’s plot follows 11-year-old Riley whose inner feelings are controlled by cartoon-ish images of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust.
When Sadness accidentally brings Riley’s core memories to the light and she and Joy are driven out of the emotions’ headquarters to right the wrong, they meet Riley’s imaginary friend Bing Bong — a peculiar mix of a cat, an elephant and a dolphin made of cotton candy.
Bing...
And though Wall-e or Up are usually considered the saddest stories that Pixar has ever created, there’s another particular character’s storyline which sounds even more devastating — until it comes to a fan’s viral theory.
The Inside Out’s plot follows 11-year-old Riley whose inner feelings are controlled by cartoon-ish images of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust.
When Sadness accidentally brings Riley’s core memories to the light and she and Joy are driven out of the emotions’ headquarters to right the wrong, they meet Riley’s imaginary friend Bing Bong — a peculiar mix of a cat, an elephant and a dolphin made of cotton candy.
Bing...
- 5/4/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
Pixar fans who have already been there for a while are aware of the company’s love for Easter eggs and small and sometimes even hardly noticeable plot details that are in fact direct references to Pixar’s other movies. The tradition entailed a great variety of fans’ theories and one of them is getting trendy thanks to some astonishing revelations.
The theory developed by Jon Negroni more than 10 years ago suggests that all the stories that Pixar has ever created — be that Up, Monsters, Inc., Ratatouille or Inside Out — are actually happening within the same universe.
Negroni’s surmise has received yet another confirmation when Pixar released a brand new teaser trailer for Inside Out 2 that featured one specific element coming from the studio’s 2022’s film Turning Red.
Is Bing Bong a Monster from Monsters Inc.?
But Inside Out seems to be much more profound in terms of such intersections.
The theory developed by Jon Negroni more than 10 years ago suggests that all the stories that Pixar has ever created — be that Up, Monsters, Inc., Ratatouille or Inside Out — are actually happening within the same universe.
Negroni’s surmise has received yet another confirmation when Pixar released a brand new teaser trailer for Inside Out 2 that featured one specific element coming from the studio’s 2022’s film Turning Red.
Is Bing Bong a Monster from Monsters Inc.?
But Inside Out seems to be much more profound in terms of such intersections.
- 5/2/2024
- by benjamin-patel@startefacts.com (Benjamin Patel)
- STartefacts.com
In 2015, Pixar's "Inside Out" introduced us to a wonderful ensemble of characters in the form of five core emotions inside the mind of an 11-year old girl named Riley. Joy (Amy Poehler) was the leader of the crew, trying to keep Riley happy all the time. Sadness (Phyllis Smith) was constantly stressing out Joy by making Riley feel down in the dumps. Anger (Lewis Black) came out when Riley just couldn't deal anymore, Fear (Bill Hader) made sure Riley kept herself safe, though sometimes irrationally scared, and Disgust (Mindy Kaling) ensured that she never ate broccoli or dealt with anything cringey that might upset her.
In "Inside Out 2," all the core emotions are comfortable in keeping Riley on the straight and narrow, complete with a new belief system and sense of self (more on that in our full footage reaction from our visit to Pixar Animation), even though...
In "Inside Out 2," all the core emotions are comfortable in keeping Riley on the straight and narrow, complete with a new belief system and sense of self (more on that in our full footage reaction from our visit to Pixar Animation), even though...
- 4/16/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
In retrospect, it only becomes harder and harder to believe that any of us made it out of our awkward teenage years (relatively) unscathed with our dignity (relatively) intact. Every new environment during this tumultuous time comes with a whole assortment of anxiety-inducing social interactions, new fears and pressures we didn't even know existed before, and the ever-present threat of embarrassing ourselves in ways that will randomly keep us up at night decades down the line. Honestly, just reliving all of my own memories while typing this out makes me want to run to the nearest therapist's office. Look at what I put myself through just for the sake of bringing the newest movie news to your devices, people!
For better or worse, viewers better start preparing themselves for the emotional rollercoaster that will undoubtedly be "Inside Out 2," the sequel to the hit 2015 Pixar movie. Almost a decade ago,...
For better or worse, viewers better start preparing themselves for the emotional rollercoaster that will undoubtedly be "Inside Out 2," the sequel to the hit 2015 Pixar movie. Almost a decade ago,...
- 3/7/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
They only come along every once in a blue moon: the dueling movies. 1998 was an especially unusual year in that it saw two of them hitting theaters, with killer asteroid films "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" going head-to-head within the same 12-month span as the animated insect flicks "Antz" and "A Bug's Life." There haven't been too many since then, save for the clash of the White House action-thrillers in 2013 with "Olympus Has Fallen" and "White House Down." Now, 2024 is bringing us the next big showdown between movies with remarkably similar premises.
The unexpected shared theme? Imaginary friends.
Okay, fine, so John Krasinski's family-friendly "If" and Jeff Wadlow's horror thriller "Imaginary" seem to have almost nothing in common besides revolving around children's imaginary pals. Nevertheless, there's no denying it's a little strange that we're getting two films based on that exact same premise in quick succession. The former of...
The unexpected shared theme? Imaginary friends.
Okay, fine, so John Krasinski's family-friendly "If" and Jeff Wadlow's horror thriller "Imaginary" seem to have almost nothing in common besides revolving around children's imaginary pals. Nevertheless, there's no denying it's a little strange that we're getting two films based on that exact same premise in quick succession. The former of...
- 2/6/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
While John Krasinski has more recently been known for co-writing and directing the :a[A Quiet Place]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/quiet-place-review/' } films, he's headed to slightly more family friendly (not to mention noisier) territory for his next job, If. With the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fiona Shaw either on screen or providing voices for CG Imaginary Friends, the new fantasy adventure comedy has its first trailer online. Check it out…
Written as well as directed by 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.
Reynolds, at least in the footage the trailer provides, appears to be in more of a straight man role here, opting for wry over his wise-cracking mode.
Written as well as directed by 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.
Reynolds, at least in the footage the trailer provides, appears to be in more of a straight man role here, opting for wry over his wise-cracking mode.
- 12/14/2023
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
How fitting is it that on the morning after the official end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, one of the first new trailers we get is from a movie about unleashing all sorts of heightened emotions? This moment of perfectly-timed collective catharsis comes courtesy of Pixar, as the animation studio has released our initial look at one of their most highly-anticipated sequels ever: "Inside Out 2." The 2015 original left nary a dry eye in the room after introducing the world to young Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) and the torrent of preadolescent feelings swirling around her head. And just when we thought we could start to recover from what happened to the lovable Bing Bong (Richard Kind), they've gone ahead with a sequel that's sure to be another emotional roller coaster.
The twist this time around, of course, will be the introduction of a whole new set of emotions to coincide with Riley...
The twist this time around, of course, will be the introduction of a whole new set of emotions to coincide with Riley...
- 11/9/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
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