By John Corrado

New releases for the week of May 17th, 2024.

Theatrical Releases:

IF (Wide Release): This latest from writer-director John Krasinski is an ambitious family movie that stars Cailee Fleming as Bea, a 12-year-old girl who teams up with a man (Ryan Reynolds) who can see imaginary friends, to help them get back to the kids they have been separated from. The film juggles a lot, but mostly balances being very sweet and surprisingly sentimental. It has funny moments, but also becomes a heartfelt look at memory and imagination, anchored by the star power of Reynolds and young lead Fleming. I liked it. (Full Review)

I Saw the TV Glow (Limited Release): Jane Schoenbrun’s A24-backed follow up to their 2021 breakout film We’re All Going to the World’s Fair stars Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine, and seems to once again meld genre and arthouse elements. I didn’t necessarily love World’s Fair, but it was a unique vision that showed promise for Schoenbrun as a stylist. I’m curious to check out their latest feature, which earned raves out of Sundance.

More Releases: The Strangers: Chapter 1 (Wide), Back to Black (Wide), The Blue Angels (Limited)

Streaming Releases:

Queen Rock Montreal (Disney+), Bridgerton: Season 3 (Netflix)