movie review of every child is special

Movie Review: Like Stars on Earth, Every Child is Special

• by Doris Siu
• 2021-09-07 2021-09-05

I first watched Aamir Khan in ‘ 3 Idiots ‘ who did an excellent job acting in that film, so I discovered that he’s actually a big star in India and this film, ‘taare zameen par’ (translated to ‘Like Stars on Earth, Every Child is Special’) was one that he directed and starred in. 

When initially watching the movie without knowing any background, I thought the child actor depicted above (Darsheel Safary who played Ishaan, an 8-year-old dyslexic child) was very troublesome and almost rude. I grew up seeing school as a place of discipline and that anyone who didn’t follow rules was ‘naughty’ or rather, ‘rebellious.’ However, as we begin to learn more about Ishaan, we realize he has a learning disability. Though, nobody understands him and thinks that he is lazy or stupid because he can’t get things right after trying so many times. Eventually, his dad gets very upset with his poor grades and that he failed grade 3 twice, so he sends him off to boarding school. There, he grows extremely depressed and even gives up his passion of drawing. You see, Ishaan loves to paint and when his mother hears that he doesn’t even paint anymore at his new school, she worries greatly for her son and feels like this is all her fault. 

It was enlightening to watch a film like this, to know that they can portray how a child truly feels when they don’t understand, not because they aren’t trying, but because they confuse letters and numbers with similar patterns. When Ishaan meets the temporary art teacher, who we learn was also dyslexic, we are empowered to see how with the right support, a child who truly is very bright can grow. 

School typically starts today (the day after Labour Day) in Ontario. Though this year, school starts on Thursday because the board requires more time to prepare given the COVID pandemic. But, this is the reason why I wanted to post about this movie today. As we enter the coming school year, I want all teachers (and even students) to remember the powerful quotes below. We all have something that makes us special and not everyone learns the same. Just because someone learns differently or takes longer to learn something, doesn’t mean they are incapable. Sometimes, it is these individuals who make the biggest difference in the world because they can see things in a different light compared to others.

• “There have been such gems amongst us who changed the course of the world because they could look at the world differently. Their thinking was out of the box and not everyone understood them. They were ridiculed. But despite that, they persevered.” 
• “Life is really not about getting the top grades and competing with others. Don’t try stretching all your fingers. To win, each finger has to be pulled until it gets longer. Pull away until it finally breaks.” 
• “On the Solomon islands, when the tribes need to clear the jungle to make way for fields, they don’t cut down the trees , they simply gather and collect around it, and hurl abuses at the tree, they curse it. Slowly but surely, after some days, the trees begin to wither. It dies on its own.”
• “If you want to win competitions, then breed race horses, don’t have kids.”

A troubled kid, a true-to-his-profession teacher, and an extraordinary moment of insight. This was what defined this movie.  Remember a good education can change anyone, but a good teacher can change everything. 

This movie has changed the way I view children with disabilities. I always used to see them as different, but not in a bad light, but different as in they need more support compared to other children. However, this movie made me realized that many children with learning disabilities could perhaps be much more brilliant. But why they struggle is because they are looking for someone to help them accept who they are so they can flourish and grow. It’s hard to gain confidence in yourself when others view your differences as something bad. This movie did a great job really putting yourself into the shoes of a dyslexic child and how others view him. 

Children with dyslexia can read and write like any other child. You just need a lot of patience, but you will see improvement with time and support. After all, it’s believed that even Albert Einstein was dyslexic. Brilliance isn’t defined by your grades in school. I would definitely recommend teachers to watch this movie to gain an appreciation of all the differences each child brings into their classroom.

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A platform of mixed knowledge, information, and reviews, every child is special (movie) – review and reflection.

A child of 8 like Ishaan, is expected to be able to read and write numbers and letters.  Because of this insufficiency of knowledge, his parents and teachers at school hastily concluded that he’s just being naughty and lazy. Ishaan is a very artistic child but his parents didn’t realize that he is dyslexic. Ishaan is also a victim of bullying but he still manages to see life like a paradise, he just keeps on being happy despite the mocking of his classmates and neighbors. I admire the way how he managed to be happy and carefree regardless of how the other people’s treatment towards him.

Ishaan was frantically bullied and judged by his classmates even teachers. I became very disappointed on how the other teachers treated him, teachers are the second parent of every student in a class, they should treat every student with love, care, and guidance. But the teachers gave him otherwise.

The most heartbreaking scene for me is the part when his father decided to bring him into a boarding school to teach him some discipline. It breaks my heart seeing how Ishaan and his mother pleaded his father just to make Isaan stay. I understand that as a father, he wants the best for his child. But it makes me mad on how they didn’t realize Ishaan’s condition sooner. All he cares is about Ishaan not getting serious about his studies. It is just a movie but the situations like these are not far from reality. Children suffering from dyslexia could experience this in real life. Isn’t that disturbing?

He became fearful and he is crying every night. He completely loses his confidence. But the worst of all, he stopped drawing which was his only way of expressing himself, his artistic and magical world in his cruel environment. Ishaan is just 8 years old, he can’t nurture understand his own confusions. But not until Ram Shankar Nikumbh walked into his life.

Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan)

Ram Shankar is a very artistic and helpful teacher, he loves teaching students and making them happy. He enlightens the parents of Ishaan about Ishaan’s condition at school, he’s dyslexic, and how the situation is emotionally killing him. He talked to the teachers of Ishaan and persuades them in giving him a chance. He is very enthusiastic when it comes to helping other people. In this way, we can see that Ram really cares about Ishaan, especially the way how Ishaan lost his interest in art. Ram is also an example to everyone that people with mental conditions deserve understanding and help. He also shows that in this competitive world, people with natural talents are ignored and being looked down and the only ones that are being given importance are people who are smart and getting high grades. Ram teaches Ishaan how to read and write patiently, he shows that every child in this world is special, they deserve love, care, and appreciation.            

_ Writer’s Reflection

This is another Amir Khan’s movie that I’d watched; he never fails to impress me with his movies. This movie made me cry because when I was on Ishaan’s age, I also experienced bullying and discrimination in our classroom. It’s not as devastating as Ishaan’s experience, but watching this film reminds me of my past experiences in grade school and how those experiences altered me into someone strong and better. Like the time when my classmates teased me that I only have a beautiful face but I’m “bobo”  (stupid) same goes with my 3rd-grade teacher that once told me that I won’t survive grade school with a brain that I have. I’m so depressed that time, I’m crying every night; I even came to the point that I don’t want to attend school anymore.

Watching this film, and reminiscing my experience, is constantly reminding me to never give up and don’t let other people bring me down. This movie also teaches us to treat every single person in this world, mentally ill or not, with equal respect and understanding.

Nikumbh’s statement is true, “There is a merciless and competitive world out there. And in this crazy world, everybody wants to grow to toppers and rankers. Everybody wants a genius for a kid. Doctors, Engineers, MBA. Nothing less is tolerated. Anything else is blasphemy isn’t it?”  In this cruel and competitive word, we must not let other feel miserable with their selves, especially to those children like Ishaan. We should not define an individual base on their test scores and ability. A child like him only knows little in this world; a child like him should not be judged but should be guided to see the goodness in them.

Life is really not about getting the top grades and competing with others, don’t try stretching all the fingers; they might break! Sometimes in life, it is healthy to be slow and dumb. – Ram Shankar Nikumbh

‘’On the Solomon islands, when the tribes need to clear the jungle to make way for fields, they don’t cut down the trees , they simply gather and collect around it, and hurl abuses at the tree, they curse it. Slowly but surely, after some days, the trees begin to wither. It dies on its own.’’- Ram Shankar Nikumbh

“To show you that there have been such gems amongst us who have change the course of the world because they could look at the world differently. Their thinking was out of the box and not everyone understood them.” – Ram Shankar Nikumbh

“Every child has his own capabilities, his own desires, his own dreams.” – Ram Shankar Nikumbh

“There is a merciless and competitive world out there. And in this crazy world, everybody wants grow to toppers and rankers. Everybody wants a genius for a kid. Doctors, engineers, MBA. Nothing less is tolerated. Anything else is blasphemy isn’t it?” – Ram Shankar Nikumbh

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Like Stars on Earth

Critics reviews, audience reviews, cast & crew.

Darsheel Safary

Ishaan Awasthi

Ram Shankar Nikumbh

Tanay Chheda

Rajan Damodran

Sachet Engineer

Yohaan Nandkishore Awasthi

Tisca Chopra

Maya Awasthi

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In-depth asian movie reviews. bridging the gap between asian film and western audience, like stars on earth.

Like Stars on Earth (Taare Zameen Par)

Director : Aamir Khan

Writer(s) : Amole Gupte

Country : India

Year : 2007

Aamir Khan’s directorial debut, “Taare Zameen Par” (Every Child is Special), is a very touching film that can make one cry and smile at the same time. Based on a script by Amole Gupte, this film became a hit in India, and is ranked in IMDB’s Top 250. Although director Aamir also stars in the movie, he does not appear until the second half. He leaves the stage to Darsheel Safary, playing nine-year-old Ishaan.

Ishaan is the second child in a middle class Awasthi family. His older brother is an exemplary student and athlete who makes his parents very proud. Meanwhile, most of Ishaan’s time is spent in his own world where fish and dogs are his friends, and there are birds, dragons and intergalactic fights. However, harsh reality often knocks its way into his vast world of imagination, and we get to know that the boy struggles a lot at school. He cannot read or write, and is about to fail third grade for a second time. He responds tho the stress with disobedience that gets him into even more trouble. Eventually losing patience, the father sends his son to a boarding school to be “beaten into shape”. Ishaan is overwhelmed with frustration in his new environment. Not only he is a new kid coming in mid-term, but he also loses the support of his mother and brother. He is ridiculed by strict teachers and even loses his biggest passion, painting.  We watch how everything goes downhill for Ishaan as a soundtrack song sings, “Idiot, duffer, crazy, lazy. Why can’t you?” When Aamir Khan’s character, arts teacher Ram Nikumbh, enters the scene, everything changes. He comes in with music and play; he doesn’t act as any other teacher in the school. He notices Ishaan and sets out to find what is troubling the boy. He discovers what Ishaan’s parents and teachers have missed – all the boy’s mistakes and shortcomings have a pattern. Nikumbh concludes that Ishaan is dyslexic, and admits he has the same problem. He starts helping the boy to overcome his disability, meanwhile unleashing his amazing artistic potential.

The movie is divided into two parts – first we see things from Ishaan’s perspective, and then through the teacher, Nikumbh. This is achieved by clever camera tactics and good use of soundtrack songs, and creates a strong bond between viewer and Ishaan. His role has very little dialogue, but the great performance of this young actor, plus his beautifully animated inner world, creates a vivid character. When we see Ishaan bonding with Nikumbh and building his confidence back in the second part of the film, it is such a strong emotional trigger.

The movie shines a light on the problem of dyslexia and portrays it relatively accurately. (Source: Wikipedia ) Activists who want to bring awareness to this problem in India and worldwide celebrated this theme. But the movie is not just about the particular issue of dyslexia, but more of a general statement on education.

“Out here it’s a merciless, competitive world where everyone wants to breed toppers and rankers. Each child has unique skills, capabilities and dreams. But no, everyone’s hell bent on pulling and stretching to make each finger long. Go ahead, even if the finger breaks,” says Aamir’s character Nikumbh.

The movie shows that a child is not just an empty jar that parents can put their hopes and ambitions into, forming him or her into a “perfect citizen.” And ironically, the robotic, monotone daily life of family members, beautifully shown in song sequence (Watch on YouTube ), is not joyous at all. Parents and teachers are forcing children to follow in their steps for their “bright future,” leading them to the same “rat race” that they are in themselves. “Taare Zameen Par” and “3 Idiots”, both movies with Aamir Khan, go very well together, as one spotlights problems in the high school system, and the other in higher education.

This film received its share of criticism as well. And while it does have its weaknesses, especially being a bit over the top with preachiness in some parts, they are minor flaws in the overall picture. The movie is beautiful and well made cinematically. More importantly, it addresses a problem that seems to be very important to the people who made this film. As for Aamir Khan, he uses his fame and strong influence as a Bollywood superstar to bring awareness to serious issues and tries to change the world for the better. Screening of the movie has prompted open discussion about dyslexia among parents and educational institutions that has resulted in positive policy changes. (Source: Wikipedia ) This kind of reaction is a big feat for any film and it deserves admiration and respect.

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Like Stars on Earth

An eight-year-old boy is thought to be a lazy trouble-maker, until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real problem behind his struggles in school. An eight-year-old boy is thought to be a lazy trouble-maker, until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real problem behind his struggles in school. An eight-year-old boy is thought to be a lazy trouble-maker, until the new art teacher has the patience and compassion to discover the real problem behind his struggles in school.

• Amole Gupte
• Darsheel Safary
• Tisca Chopra
• 461 User reviews
• 21 Critic reviews
• 27 wins & 18 nominations

• Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi

• Ram Shankar Nikumbh

• Maya Awasthi

• Nandkishore Awasthi

• Rajan Damodran
• Yohan Nandkishore Awasthi

• Jabeen Khan
• (as Girija)
• Art Mela's Chief Guest
• (as Ravi Khanwelkar)
• Principal - St. Anthony's School

• Victoria Teacher

• Irene Teacher
• (as Sanjay Dadich)

• (as Raaj Gopal Iyer)
• (as Bugs Bhargava)

• Housemaster
• (as Gurkirtan Chauhan)
• Amole Gupte (uncredited)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Aamir Khan received special permission from Amitabh Bachchan to use Abhishek Bachchan 's experiences in the film. The reference is made in terms of Abhishek being one of the most successful stars and how he came to star in the blockbuster Dhoom (2004) , overcoming the dyslexia that he had during childhood.
• Goofs When Rajan and Ishaan are talking in the corridors, Rajan says he lives in the staff quarters as opposed to in the normal student dorm. Later on, Ram asks Rajan where Ishaan is, and Rajan says he saw him leave the student dorm early. If Rajan lived in the staff quarters, he wouldn't know this.

Ram Shankar Nikumbh : lf you fancy racing, breed racehorses, dammit, not children.

• Crazy credits The opening credits rolls after few minutes of the film and consists of animated sequences (in order to portray the main character's imaginary world).
• Connections Featured in 53rd Filmfare Awards (2008)
• Soundtracks Taare Zameen Par Music by Shankar Mahadevan , Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa Lyrics by Prasoon Joshi Performed by Shankar Mahadevan , Dominique Cerejo , Vivienne Pocha

User reviews 461

• Dec 21, 2007
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• How does the movie end?
• December 21, 2007 (India)
• Official site
• Taare Zameen Par
• Panchgani, Maharashtra, India (New Era High School)
• Aamir Khan Productions
• PVR Pictures
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• Dec 23, 2007
• $21,897,373

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 42 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Taare Zameen Par (Every Child Is Special)

Details: 2007, Rest of the world, Cert PG, 164 mins

Direction: Aamir Khan

With: Aamir Khan ,  Darsheel Safary and Tisca Chopra

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Movie: Like Stars on Earth, Every Child is Special

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• Every Child is Special: A Review

10:46 AM by mari 4 Comments A + a -

• Taare Zameen Par, Plot,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taare_Zameen_Par#Plot

I really love this movie! I can say it's one of my top picks. Great actors! Kudos to Aamir Khan and Darsheel Safary!

Great for teachers!

why every child is special was held in Mumbai panchagii new era high school in India

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MOVIE LEARNINGS

EXERCISING OUR MINDS AND HEARTS THROUGH MOVIE MARATHONS

SUMMARY OF THE MOVIE “EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL”

 A SUMMARY OF ONE OF THE BEST FAMILY MOVIE OF ALL TIME; EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL.

The story is about an 8-year-old boy named Ishaan who cannot cope with the academic demands in school. He even finds it hard to read because the letters are moving or dancing. He also can’t write correctly and his letters and numbers are sometimes inverted. He is then in danger to repeat his grade level.

Because of his difficulties in school, his parents decided to move him to a new school that they expect to help him. This made Ishaan depressed knowing his family disband him.

Out of the blue, a new teacher has arrived in their school that will help Ishaan find himself.

Ishaan Awasthi, an eight year old kid filled with joy and imagination is having a hard time with his life. His parents are more focused in Ishaan’s brother who is much smarter. They just doesn’t seem to appreciate Ishhan’s talent in creativity and art.

Ishaan is also having a hard time in coping up in school, he just can’t even read nor write. The letters he see are moving and when he writes, his letters and numbers are sometimes inverted. Because of his difficulties in school and family, he became depressed and confused.

His parents then decided to move him to a new school that will teach him better and far away from home, which, they did not know that will make Ishaan more depressed. Ishaan is having a hard time coping and adjusting and his only stress reliever is through painting.

Out of the blue, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, a new art teacher came to the scene that defies traditionally practiced teaching. He set his students on hype fire encouraging them to use their imagination.

He noticed Ishaan and his difficulties. He discovered that Ishaan’s mistakes are because that he has dyslexia, a disorder that involves difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters, and other symbols, but that do not affect general intelligence. -google Nikumbh reminisced his past as he also has the same problem as Ishaan before. He decided to help the kid.

While observing Ishaan, Nikumbh noticed the kid’s talent in art. He realized the kid’s potential. Nikumbh came to visit Ishaan’s family and explained to them the kid’s problem why he is different. His parents were ashamed of themselves not knowing their sons potential.

Nikumbh Helped the kid read and write properly. they made a great bond together

Nikumbh approached the school’s principal to have an event of painting to show the school that Ishaan is not what they seem to think he is. On the event, Ishaan is faced off with different artist in school icluding his very own mentor, Nikmubh.

When the decision came to who won the eyes and hearts of the judges. He is tied with his teacher Nikumbh, but only one should be the winner. And that someone is no other than Ishaan himslef. He won over his very own mentor which made him, Nikumbh, and his family very happy and proud.

Ishaan’s victory helps him find himself which made him a better person in school, family and community. His grades became higher and personality improved and made him a very smart and happy child.

The movie tells us that children are like stars on earth, they are all special in their own ways.

A summary of -Jo Peter Ubante, St Thomas More

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Lunes, Oktubre 3, 2016

Every child is special: a movie review, walang komento:, mag-post ng isang komento.

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Eight-year-old Ishaan's world is filled with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate. Adults are more interested in things like homework and marks. And Ishaan just can't seem to get anything right in class. When he gets into more trouble than his parents can handle, he is packed off to boarding school to be disciplined...New art teacher, Nikumbh, soon realizes that something is wrong and sets out to discover why. With time, patience and care, he ultimately helps Ishaan find himself. BBC Movie Reviews: An inspirational story that is as emotive as it is enlightening, this is a little twinkling star of a movie. CNN-IBN Taare Zameen Par may change your life. The Hindu: It's not just out of the box, 'Taare...' is simply out of this world. Indiafm.com: Outstanding work of cinema.

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• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ Unrated (Not Rated)
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 Pounds
• Director ‏ : ‎ aamir khan
• Actors ‏ : ‎ aamir khan
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08BFLKDRF

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Film Review of "Every Child is Special (Taare Zameen Par".)

Every Child is Special (Taare Zameen Par)

In Mumbai and Panchgani's New Era High School in India

Characters:

• Ishaan Awasthi - He is a boy who has dyslexia and he proved that even when someone has an disability, they can still do amazing things in this world that we are living in.
• Ram Shankar Nikumbh - He is the “once” a substiture teacher of Ishaan. He also has dyslexia when he was still a child and through his experience, he taught and helped Ishaan to boost up his self-esteem and confidence.
• Maya Awasthi – the loving mother of Ishaan.who really loved her children no matter what happens or what circumstances that stands in their way.
• Nandkishore Awasthi - the strict and dominating father of Ishaan who sent Ishaan to a boarding school and because of what he did, Ishaan met Sir Nikumbh
• Yohaan Awasthi  – the elder brother of Ishaan who is very supportive to his brother.

This is a preview of the whole essay

        The movie is all about the life of a boy named Ishaan Awasthi. Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year old boy whose mind is really one-of-a-kind. He imagines things unlike any other people. His imagination is so wild and what is sad is that no one appreciates it. Because of his wild imagination, he just can’t get focused in his class. He does so many things that many “normal” people just cannot appreciate it. When Ishaan reached the limit, he was sent to a boarding school to be disciplined. In his new school, all things are the same and it only got worse because he got traumatized because of his separation from his family and also the criticism of the teachers and students in the school.  But one day, a new art teacher, Mr. Nikumbh, surprised into their class. They “broke the rules” by having of “how things are done” and after it, they were asked to paint. Ishaan did not do anything and he knew that Ishaan was not happy. He sets out to discover the reason behind all of the things that is happening to Ishaan. This was the turning point of the story. And with all the hardwork, time, effort, patience, and care, Nikumbh ultimately helps Ishaan build up his confidence and also taught him everything that a normal kid knows.

Moral Lesson:

• Every child is special and has its own talents that can change the lives of others.
• Do not judge someone for we do not have the rights to judge others.
• We must be patient in all things.
• Good things will come at the right time and at the right place.
• Everything happens for a reason.
• Never give up.
• Just do it.
• It’s not about how you start, but it's all about how you finish the race.
• Do to others what you want other to do to you.
• In all things that we do, we must do it with care.

The movie was indeed great. The lighting, the sounds, and the actors are great. The plot of the story of the movie is also great. Everything is great about the movie, especially the message of the movie to the watchers. I learned so many things by just watching the movie. It teaches us to not judge others quickly and that we should never give up. It also tells us that what matters at the end of the day is what you’ve done to improve yourself. It has so many values in it. And many children and teens can relate to the movie as well. It was really uplifting to the soul to watch those kinds of movies.

Document Details

• Author Type Student
• Word Count 606
• Page Count 2
• Subject English

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‘IF’ Is Rated PG, but Is the New Movie About Imaginary Friends OK for Young Kids?

Heads up, bring tissues—Why 'IF', starring Ryan Reynolds and John Krasinski made this mom a blubbering mess.

“Sometimes life isn’t fun,” but the new movie IF , in theaters this Friday, certainly is. 

I will happily watch anything that stars Ryan Reynolds or has John Krasinski’s name attached to it. So when I saw that IF not only stars Reynolds, but is also written, directed, and produced by Krasinski (who also plays two roles in the film), I immediately knew it was going to be a masterpiece. And it didn’t let me down. Not just because it is great entertainment for kids, but a really fun trip down memory lane for us adults too. 

Paramount Pictures

I did not expect this movie to make me a blubbering mess and all in my feels within the first 30 seconds of the film. There is only one other movie that hit me that hard and fast, and that was Disney’s UP (IYKYK). I was admittedly unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster of laugh-out-loud moments mixed with a sweet sense of poignant nostalgia but I was really happy to be along for the ride of this family movie . 

The PG rating makes sense given some of the film's themes, but the animated creatures' wholesome nature and their adventure makes it really digestible for young children to understand.

The Themes Of IF

IF is a beautiful movie that takes adult viewers on a journey back to their childhood, exploring love and loss through the eyes of a child, and how creating a world of make-believe becomes a way of resilience against the struggles of the real world. It reminds us parents that our magical childhood may not be so far behind us.

For kids who watch the film, it encourages them to cherish their childhood as long as possible. The film not only celebrates imagination but also the strong bonds of family and friendship.

The plot centers around 12-year-old Bea, played brilliantly by actress Cailey Fleming. She's navigating a challenging time in her life with her father, played by Krasinski. She discovers she can see everyone’s long-forgotten imaginary friends . With the help of her eccentric neighbor Cal, played by Reynolds, they embark on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs, or imaginary friends, with their now-grown creators.

Fleming is now 17 years old but was just 13 when she began working on IF. She has been an actress since she was 8, portraying a “Young Rey” in Star Wars: The Force Awakens , and as Judith Grimes in AMC’s The Walking Dead .

“I’ve never been so involved in something as I have this movie,” she tells Parents . “I have tried to hold onto every moment that I could, and learn from everything that I could from watching John and Ryan.”

As Bea navigates the challenges of growing up in this coming-of-age film, Fleming finds herself on a parallel journey in real life. “I felt that as Bea was growing, I was growing,” she explains. “I just felt very connected to her.”

Krasinski’s inspiration for the film came from his two young daughters, whom he shares with actress Emily Blunt. He tells Parents he always wanted to write a film about imaginary friends for his daughters, but it wasn’t until he saw how the pandemic affected his girls that he decided to sit down and finish writing the film. 

“I used to stand in the doorway and watch these girls disappear into this magical world that you know we’re not allowed in, and I remember thinking not only how joyful they were but how authentic they were,” he explains. “They were themselves. They got to do voices and wear whatever they wanted.”

“And then the pandemic hit,” he goes on. “Slowly their light started to go out and they were doing fewer and fewer imaginary games and started asking big questions like ‘Are we going to be ok?’”

He realized his daughters were growing up too fast, and because of what was happening around them, they felt forced to give up on their childhood. So he promised them he would “write a movie about how you never have to give up on that magical world.”

He wrote it at the same time he was producing the YouTube show Some Good News , to “put good energy out in the world,” but also to “talk about big and hard things as long as you do it with love and hope.”

“I’ve never been more scared to show anything to anyone in my entire career,” Krasinski admits of the trepidation he felt before showing the final cut of the movie to his daughters. 

“I got two little thumbs up and to this day I’m still processing it,” he beamed. “Finally, I’m in the cool category. They had no idea what I did for a living and Emily was off to the races with Mary Poppins and Jungle Cruise , and now I’m there!”

The Stellar Cast of IF

Not only was the film a love letter for Krasinski’s daughters, but two of the animated characters were created directly from their imaginary play time.

“Ally,” (a pink alligator voiced by Maya Rudolph), was an imaginary friend that lived under their bed, and “Marshmallow” was another real IF created by his daughters, whom Krasinski ended up voicing in the film. Keeping it all in the family, there’s a unicorn IF voiced by Emily Blunt.

Kids will no doubt be drawn to the live-action animated IF’s, particularly “Blue,” voiced by Steve Carell, and each fantastical creature Krasinski created with their own unique backstory and charm.  That includes “Keith,” an invisible prankster IF who becomes a thorn in Cal’s side. 

A who’s who of Hollywood stars was enlisted to voice the myriad of imaginary characters including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, Amy Schumer, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Awkwafina, Blake Lively, Maya Rudolph, and Jon Stewart. The late Louis Gossett Jr. voices a wise bear named “Lewis,” and Krasinski admits he was starstruck to have one of his favorite actors he watched during his childhood, starring in a film he created. 

While imagination was very much part of the storyline, it was also very much part of the movie-making process. Krasinski helped the actors move past the logistical challenges of interacting with characters that were physically not in the scene by shooting some scenes using puppets and stuffed animals.

“Imagination is part of our job. We do it every day. Especially in this movie, we had to imagine a lot because they weren’t there,” Fleming says.

I don’t remember if I had an IF but, I’m sure I must have when I was younger. Before watching the movie, I feared that because of this, I’d feel a bit left out. But the film helps those of us who can’t quite remember still feel like we’re part of the process by tapping into the triggers that bring us back to those special childhood days. 

For Krasinski, “it’s the smells, it’s the sounds, it’s the music cues, or it could be a line from a movie that someone says,” that triggers joyful memories of his childhood. 

In particular, Tina Turner’s 1984 hit song “Better Be Good To Me,” which he uses in a grand musical number featuring all of the IFs in the film. He says he included it as a way to pay tribute to his mom who was a “huge Tina Turner fan” which made him one too.  

“I was an 8-year-old who knew all the words to all the Tina Turner songs," Krasinski says. "Like imagination, your memories are stirred up by things that may not be deliberate. The smell of your mom’s cooking or the music she was listening to make you who you are.”  

For me, it’s seeing the waves crash in the ocean and Bob Marley's songs. Hearing reggae brings me back to vacations with my parents in Jamaica, which were probably some of the best moments of my childhood. The film emphasizes that through the right triggers, the magic of childhood is never really lost, even when we become adults. 

When you head to the theater, be prepared (with tissues) for an emotional experience that might make you consider the imaginary characters we created as children may somehow still be providing comfort, joy, and guidance in our later years. The “What If?” where anything is possible. Because as Blue says, “All kids need their IFs, especially when they grow up.” 

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John Krasinski’s ‘IF’ is a magical, family-friendly movie — despite its imperfections

Here’s what parents should know before taking their kids to see the movie.

By Caroline McDonald

John Krasinski’s “IF” is one of the sweetest family movies I’ve seen in several years, at least since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film features a star-studded cast with familiar faces such as Ryan Reynolds and John Krasinski. Steve Carrell plays Blue — a giant, purple, fluffy imaginary friend, also known as an “IF” — while the voices behind the other IFs include Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Blake Lively, Bradley Cooper and others.

The film follows the journey of these imaginary friends who, having been forgotten by their children, seek companionship again.

The movie adopts a safe and comfortable narrative for children while featuring deeper themes of loss, grief, hope and love. As an adult, I found the movie nostalgic and evocative. And partnered with Michael Giacchino’s stirring soundtrack, the story brought tears to my eyes more than once. The movie provided opportunities to laugh, to cry and to imagine.

Despite its occasional quirks and strained script, the magic and catharsis of the movie was inviting. Here are some things to know before watching it.

What is the movie about?

Bea (Cailey Fleming), a 12-year-old girl, is staying with her grandmother while her father (Krasinski) is in the hospital, awaiting surgery. Bea’s internal struggle becomes clear: Since her mother’s premature death, she fears another familial loss, which leaves her decidedly telling those around her that she is no longer a little kid.

Inexplicably, Bea begins to encounter a variety of IFs, including lovable Blue (Carell) and graceful Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge). Cal (Reynolds) is the only other person who can see all the imaginary friends. The two team up to help lonely, “retired” IFs reconnect with the grown-up children they once looked after.

While director John Krasinski has directed other films — most notably “A Quiet Place” — “IF” is “his most personal project to date,” according to CBS News .

He also explained that his inspiration came from watching his two daughters, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic took place. “I saw their light starting to go out,” he told CBS News. “And I saw that the world started to seep in, and that is the definition of growing up.”

According to CBS News, it was at that moment Krasinski began to create “IF.” He wanted it to be a reminder to his children that “the magical world they’ve created will forever be a sanctuary for them, regardless of the challenges the real world presents.”

What parents should know

“IF” is rated PG. I found the jokes silly and endearing — in the theater, there were rows of kids who were laughing throughout the hour-and-a-half movie. The larger themes of “IF” might go over the heads of the little ones in the audience, but older children will likely resonate with the story.

According to a USA Today review, “Tweens and teens ... will likely engage with or feel seen by Bea’s character arc, struggling to move into a new phase of life while being tied to her younger years.”

While the magic of the film was evident, it had slow start. It was about halfway through the movie when I felt like the story had finally begun. The dialogue also felt simple at times, as if the script played it a little too safe.

The imperfections of the movie reflect in critics’ reviews. “IF” scored 51% on Rotten Tomatoes . However, the accompanying audience score was an 87%, and the movie has been generally well-liked.

Personally, I wholeheartedly appreciated the film. I thought it was funny, adorable and touching. Most importantly, I think it is worth the watch.

The movie, according to Variety , is also expected to have a successful box office weekend, with an anticipated $40 million box office debut.

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Lily Gladstone on her new ‘Under the Bridge’ series, stratospheric year

SEATTLE – A year ago, at the Cannes Film Festival, Lily Gladstone’s career shot into the stratosphere. “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese’s based-on-fact drama about a mysterious series of murders in the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma, made its world premiere at Cannes on May 20, to a 9-minute standing ovation. “The loudest screams,” wrote a Variety reporter at the time, “were directed at the film’s discovery”: Gladstone, who lived as a child on Montana’s Blackfeet Reservation and graduated in 2004 from Mountlake Terrace (Washington) High School. She had spent many years as a working actor in independent film, television and theater – but the Cannes screening marked the beginning of a new phase of her career, with bright lights shining.

The “Killers of the Flower Moon” role led to multiple honors, including a history-making Oscar nomination for best actress – the first for a Native American actor – and Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild wins. Chatting on Zoom this month in an interview to promote her new Hulu series “Under the Bridge,” Gladstone said that the past year has been astonishing – during awards season, “every day was packed with like five incredible, life-changing experiences.” (The flurry continues; two days before the interview, Gladstone walked the red carpet at the Met Gala, describing the event as “way chiller than I expected.”)

“Under the Bridge,” filmed after completing “Killers of the Flower Moon,” was a project Gladstone wasn’t certain she wanted to do, reluctant to follow one true-crime drama with another.

But series creator Quinn Shephard had Gladstone in mind when creating the role of Cam Bentland, a police officer on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, investigating the death of a teenage girl, Reena Virk. (Virk, who was 14, was killed in 1997 in Saanich, a community just outside Victoria; a group of fellow teens was accused of her murder.

In the series, Virk is played by Seattle-based actor Vritika Gupta.) And Gladstone became intrigued during preliminary conversations, drawn by the series’ nonsensationalized view of the crime and the victim.

The project, she said, had an approach similar to “Killers”: “a self-awareness, a self-indictment … almost Brechtian, a great respect for the audience.” She was pleased by another similarity. Scorsese, Gladstone said, had optioned not only David Grann’s nonfiction book “Killers of the Flower Moon,” but also Native author Charles H. Red Corn’s novel “A Pipe for February,” which takes place during the Osage murders. Likewise, the “Under the Bridge” team optioned a manuscript by Virk’s father Manjit,“Reena: A Father’s Story” – “a source of material coming from the community most affected by it, from their perspective,” Gladstone said.

She’s proud that the series centers Reena, making her not just a victim but a fully realized character with her own story.

“It’s so important to contextualize who she was,” Gladstone said. Though she’s not sure if she’ll take on another true-crime story soon, she sees the value of the genre: “It allows you to have real conversations about the systemic issues that are at play, because if they were pure fiction, you could just write it off as a political agenda or some kind of purpose the author has … But because it all actually existed, it happened in reality, you can’t avoid those conversations that it brings up.”

Her next project, however, will be something entirely different: a comedy. Gladstone will star with Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”) in a remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 film “The Wedding Banquet.” The original featured a gay Taiwanese American man and a woman from China who agree to marry in order to placate his parents and get her a green card; the new version, Gladstone said, is “reimagined for the aging millennial” in a Generation Alpha (the cohort after Gen Z) world.

“It’s really lovely. It’s relationship-based, it’s farcical … it’s just so fun.” In a screen career that’s been drama-heavy, she’s thrilled to return to her roots: “My first moments stepping onstage as a kid, I was the comic relief character.”

Before she heads to Vancouver later in May to spend the summer filming “The Wedding Banquet” (a special treat, as she’ll be within a two-hour drive of her parents and dog), she’s got an important trip: back to Cannes, where this year she’s a member of the prestigious Cannes feature film jury, a nine-member group led by filmmaker Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) that views a number of films at the festival and chooses the prestigious top award, the Palme d’Or.

“I got the invitation, and I was just floored,” Gladstone said. “It’s such a huge honor, an incredible space to come into and bring some new representation to.”

She’s also thrilled because of what it brings: a chance to watch movies. When a career catches fires, as hers has over the past year, it’s hard to find time to watch films “and that’s the heart of all of this,” Gladstone said.

For those who love to watch Gladstone, there’ll be plenty of opportunity: New episodes of “Under the Bridge” continue to drop on Hulu, and Erica Tremblay’s feature film “Fancy Dance,” in which Gladstone stars, will arrive in late June in theaters and on Apple TV+ (where “Killers of the Flower Moon” can also be found). And sometime after “The Wedding Banquet,” she’ll begin filming the drama “The Memory Police,” based on Yōko Ogawa’s 1994 science fiction novel and adapted by Charlie Kaufman. (It’ll be later, Gladstone said, because director Reed Morano “wants snow on the ground.”)

It’s been a remarkable year, full of experiences that were “exciting and could be fun and frivolous but also be really deeply meaningful,” she said. Gladstone, who was happy to reconnect with many old friends after Mountlake Terrace High School held an Oscars watch party for their famous alum, said it’s been startling to be recognized when she’s in town visiting family, “out and about in Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Shoreline, going to my old haunts where I passed unnoticed for decades.”

That hometown pride is “nice; I had no idea that was there.”

Asked for a favorite memory of recent months, Gladstone singled out a meeting in Washington, D.C., with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary.

“It was incredible to meet her,” Gladstone said. “She’s a historic figure, she is legendary, from where I’m sitting, she’s a hero.”

Their conversation, which took place shortly after Gladstone won a Golden Globe, became emotional, with Haaland getting “super teary about the representation in that moment” when Gladstone’s name was called.

Actors, Gladstone said, often have a sense of social-justice consciousness attached to their work.

“I think sometimes we feel like maybe we’re not doing enough,” she said. “But when you see that people who are out there in positions to change society, drawing so much from what we do, it’s like, OK, there’s a purpose there. It was incredible to meet her, go to her office, share in that moment of history.”

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‘IF’ Review: John Krasinski’s Ryan Reynolds-Starring Children’s Tale Has a Classical Look, but Messy World-Building

Despite a star-studded voice cast and a terrific lead in Cailey Fleming, this big-hearted animation-live action hybrid doesn’t feel magical like the Pixar films it aspires to emulate.

By Tomris Laffly

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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.

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Naturally, Bea joins them too and finds herself at a Coney Island retirement community for all discarded IFs that only she can see. (This superpower of hers feels easier to accept than a 12-year-old kid taking the subway all over New York City, without the knowledge of her grandmother and father.) And once at the center, we realize we are witnessing perhaps the most star-studded ensemble cast of the year, with the IFs voiced by the likes of Louis Gossett Jr., Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Emily Blunt, Bradley Cooper, Jon Stewart, Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, George Clooney and more.(There appears to be no shortage of A-listers who want to have some fun with Krasinski.)

This remarkable lineup of actors aside, the animated IFs never quite impress, enlighten or entertain us enough, even when they launch into an adorable song-and-dance number. Elsewhere, Bea’s regular trips to the hospital to visit his spirited dad (during which we get to meet Alan Kim’s adorable Benjamin) always feel like an uncomfortable afterthought. Krasinski’s concept borrows generously from Pixar films like “Monsters Inc.,” but is so chaotic and half-considered that you don’t feel as inspired as you should be, making it hard to submit to the film’s alternate reality.

The film asks its audience to use unreasonable sums of imagination to decipher why on earth, for instance, a child’s imaginary friend would be an ice-cube in a half-full water glass (Cooper), or an impulsive spy-like figure (Christopher Meloni) or a giant gummy bear (Amy Schumer), next to some of the more credible ones like a teddy bear or a unicorn. Not to mention Bea’s very own (and heavily signposted) IF — once it’s finally revealed, it’s a particular head-scratcher. It’s almost as if some imaginary figures were conceived with little consideration for their narrative purpose, and baked into the script just because they felt cool as ideas. Like many of the film’s attempts at humor, the animated characters fall flat, in desperate need of some coherent world-building.

That’s too bad, because “IF” does have a classical look and feel to its visuals, an old-school and big-hearted quality sorely missed in cinema aimed at younger viewers these days. Everything from the magical lens of frequent Steven Spielberg DP Janusz Kamiński to Jess Gonchor’s opulent production design and Michael Giacchino’s disarmingly melancholic score beg for a film with as much writerly finesse to rise to the occasion. If only.

Reviewed at Regal Union Square, New York City, May 14, 2024. Running time: 104 MIN.

• Production: A Paramount Pictures release of a Sunday Night and Maximum Effort production. Producers: Allyson Seeger, John Krasinski, Andrew Form, Ryan Reynolds. Executive producers: John J. Kelly, George Dewey, Kimberly Nelson LoCascio.
• Crew: Director, screenplay: John Krasinski. Camera: Janusz Kamiński. Editors: Andy Canny, Christopher Rouse. Music: Michael Giacchino.
• With: Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Alan Kim, Liza Colón-Zayas, Steve Carell.

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