Two adults, clearly in despair, but unclear about the circumstances of their dismay. The two relive some of the most important moments of their lives and remember that all good things must come to an end. As they are eventually able to set aside their differences and reconnect through their past experiences together they do their best to remind one another that If Anything Happens I Love You.
If Anything Happens I Love You is full of power and passion that is able to resonate with the stingiest of viewers. The film is meant to play two roles and cover two important topics. The first is grief; it discusses the difficulties of losing a loved one and the tolls that an event of this nature can have on families. If Anything Happens I Love You consists of a series of different shading techniques that depict various stages of grief. The two protagonists consist of hatching, a technique that sees them in a less than complete state. For obvious reasons, hatching is emblematic of the way in which each character feels right now. Throughout the course of the film, as the two think back to better days, the memories that are expressed on the walls in their home are completed using a dark, dense version of circulism. These memories feel incredibly real to the two leads and are used to express the fact that while their day-to-day has been altered and feels a bit unreal, these memories, both good and bad are irreversible, and very much a part of their lives forever. The juxtaposition of shading techniques adds depth to the story and invites viewers to feel along with the characters.
While the grief aspect of If Anything Happens I Love You is well put and endearing, the other aspect of the film, the part about gun control, comes off in an odd light. While I can appreciate what is being said, this story about grief quickly becomes too political. As the film unfolds and the political stance on gun control comes out, writer-directors Michael Govier and Will McCormack, along with producers Laura Dern and Gary Gilbert (and a slew of others), make clear their intentions. The political mumbo jumbo that lies in the shadows of If Anything Happens I Love You waters down the other legitimate, gut wrenching content. The somewhat sneaky approach makes it difficult to appreciate what they are trying to say. The grieving aspect of the film still rings true, but the addition of the political advertising throughout truly puts a damper on what Dern and the others should have been able to accomplish.
The sentiment behind If Anything Happens I Love you is deep, meaningful, and enough to warrant change in a world where it is desperately needed. The added layer of political nonsense makes aspects of the film difficult to appreciate and, as previously mentioned, waters down the brilliance of the emotional endeavor that is If Anything Happens I Love You. Viewers are instantly and cohesively transported to an animated world full of meaning and emotion, tugging at their heartstrings and forcing them to feel what the two nameless protagonists feel. The attention to the animated detail of the film is what puts it over the top and allows viewers to appreciate, on an entirely different level, what Dern and company are trying to accomplish.
Written & Directed by Michael Govier & Will McCormack.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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