John Krasinski Recalls Emotional Moment Reuniting with OFFICE Costar Steve Carell for IF
By Movieguide® Contributor
THE OFFICE costars John Krasinski and Steve Carell reunited for Krasinski’s new movie IF, a moment that was emotional for both.
“When he came in, I thought I would have the best time ever, and I did,” Krasinski said of the first time they saw each other in years. “But the first thing he did was make me cry, which sounds sad but it was amazing.”
“He walked in, and I had this big smile, I thought we were going to laugh,” he added. “And he came up he gave me the biggest hug, and he looked at me like a brother, and he said, ‘I just wanted to say how proud I am of you.’ And he said, ‘I read this script, I love it.’ And he said ‘but ever since you started writing and directing, I love everything you do.’ And I wept, just wept…it meant the world because that’s family, you know?”
“He said, ‘I knew you’d go on to be a writer-director.’ I said, ‘I didn’t even know that.’ He just said, ‘I’m so proud of you and keep going, and I’ve watched everything and [I’m] cheering you on from the sidelines,’” So I wept at the beginning of our VO session, and then luckily he jumped into being Blue and cheered me up. It was great,” Krasinski recalled.
Krasinski created the animated character Blue with Carell specifically in mind.
“I was writing [animated character] Blue to be Steve because of his sense of humor and how sweet he is, and how incredibly vulnerable and also how big and open-hearted he is and he gives great hugs,” he explained. “So I was like, ‘If he doesn’t do this, we’re in trouble.’ And as soon as he said yes, it was like a family member giving you that love and support that I needed. As soon as he jumped on, I knew we were off to the races.”
He also made the movie for his kids.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Krasinski noticed his kids “started doing fewer imaginary games, and they started to let the real world in. They started asking bigger questions and then finally said, ‘Are we going to be okay?’”
“I said to [wife] Emily [Blunt], ‘That’s kind of the definition of growing up, isn’t it? When you let fear in?’ I thought, ‘I have to do this movie right now to show them that magical world they created, they can go back,’” he continued.
Movieguide® summarizes:
IF is a comical fantasy written and directed by John Krasinski of A QUIET PLACE and THE OFFICE. He stars as the widowed father of a 12-year-old girl, Bea. She’s staying with her grandmother while her father prepares for heart surgery in the hospital. One day, Bea finds a cartoon insect named Blossom and a large furry blue creature named Blue lurking around the building. They are friends of a man named Cal. Bea decides to help Cal find new children for them and other Imaginary Friends who’ve been forgotten.
IF released in theaters on May 17. Part of Movieguide®’s review reads:
IF is beautifully shot and performed. It also has some fun adventures and humorous situations, with lots of creativity. However, what’s most surprising about the movie are its heartfelt dramatic moments, which are emotionally powerful. IF is a celebration of imagination, creativity, love, and family. The movie promotes the idea that adults should maintain a youthful attitude and not abandon the imagination and love they had as children. IF is relatively family friendly. However, it’s marred by some meandering moments, four light obscenities and 15 light profanities. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older pre-teen children.
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