Summary
Although Ryan Reynolds has enjoyed a lengthy blockbuster career,IFmarks only the second time that he has collaborated with another famous star. Director John Krasinski’s family dramedyIFfollows a young girl, Bea, who learns that she can see other people’s abandoned imaginary friends after a personal tragedy.IF’s story sees Bea work together with her irascible neighbor, Cal, as he attempts to pair imaginary friends with new children before they are forgotten for good. This whimsical premise didn’t saveIFfrom critcism upon release thanks to the convoluted plot mechanics ofIF’s surprisingly complicated ending.
Krasinski himself plays Bea’s father, who is taken to hospital after her mother’s death. This tragic setup leaves Bea and Cal plenty of time to rehome the imaginary friends, although it also results in an uneven tone mentioned by many ofIF’s mixed reviews. EvenIF’s critics did concede that the movie’s most compelling creations were the titular imaginary friends, from Steve Carell’s large fury monster Blue to Awkwafina’s sentient bubbles, Pop. There are a slew of other imaginary friends voiced by major stars, like Matt Damon, George Clooney, Emily Blunt, Sam Rockwell, and Bradley Cooper.
IF Is The First Movie Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively Have Both Been In Since Green Lantern
The Real-Life Couple Reunited For This Family Fantasy Dramedy
AmongIF’s many imaginary friends is Blake Lively’s Octopuss, a cat dressed as an octopus. Thus,IFmarks the first time that real-life couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds appeared in the same movie since 2011’sGreen Lantern13 years ago. Although Octopuss doesn’t play a major role inIF, Lively’s presence is interesting given how rarely the pair collaborate on-screen. SinceGreen Lanternranks among Reynolds’ worst movies, it is perhaps not too surprising that it took the pair so long to make another project together. Regrettably, the mixed reception ofIFmay discourage them from doing so again.
Lively and Reynolds met on the set ofGreen Lanternand began dating, with the couple getting married two years later.
WhileGreen Lanternwas a box office disappointment and a critical disaster, the movie wasn’t without its positives. Lively and Reynolds met on the set ofGreen Lanternand began dating, with the couple getting married two years later. Reynolds and Lively went on to have four children together, but the duo didn’t share the screen again untilIF. AlthoughIF’s confusing loreset up an entire fictional universe for the movie’s sequels to explore, its lackluster box office makes the odds of a follow-up movie vanishingly unlikely. Thus, Lively and Reynolds’ next movie may have to wait another 13 years.
Why Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively Haven’t Made More Movies Together
The Failure of The Green Lantern May Have Discouraged Further Collaborations
Although Lively and Reynolds have been together for fourteen years, it does make sense that the pair have only made two movies together. SinceGreen Lantern’s failure, Lively’s taste in projects has leaned toward smaller, more intimate stories likeCafe SocietyandAll I See Is You, as well as darker projects likeThe ShallowsorThe Rhythm Section. Even her most mainstream movies, such asA Simple Favor, are nowhere near as big as Reynolds’ output. In contrast, Reynolds prioritizes roles in major blockbusters likeDeadpool,Free Guy, andDetective Pikachu. Thus,IFis the first movie to marry their interests.
