Movie Review: Imagine That

Getting in touch with his PG side, Eddie Murphy is into continued makeover mode navigating the hurdles of perplexed fatherhood and ruthless corporate warfare simultaneously, in Imagine That. This bad parenting cautionary tale arriving just in time for Father’s Day, finds Murphy unleashing his own inner child while picking up a useful skill or two from a precocious offspring.

Murphy stars as Evan Danielson, a Denver-based financial executive who barely has time for his 7-year-old, Olivia. Estranged from his wife (Nicole Ari Parker), Evan is stuck watching Olivia for a few days but has no idea what to do with her, so he ignores her and instead focuses on his computer screens and constant phone calls. But she pays attention to everything he says and does – and so do the princesses, Olivia’s trio of imaginary friends.

Somehow, the princesses come up with advice on which stocks daddy should buy and sell – and somehow, they’re always right. When Evan finally gives in and starts following their suggestions, he becomes a superstar at work – and naturally, learns to loosen up at home and have a little fun with his daughter in the process.

“Imagine That” comes from director Karey Kirkpatrick, who’s previously had success with the family films “Over the Hedge” and “Chicken Run” (which he wrote), and writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”). The playful tone they achieve as Evan allows himself to enter Olivia’s imaginary world always feels realistic. While that may sound like a contradiction, “Imagine That” shows us a father and daughter running around an apartment, pretending they’re in France, or the woods, or in front of a mountain, rather than relying on special effects to create such images for us.

Any parent – anyone who’s even baby-sat – should be able to relate.

Imagine That doesn’t leave all that much to the imagination, but Murphy’s heart is in the right place here, if a little on the predictably unrepentant prankster side. The story could have eased up a little on all the abracadabra and corporate jargon too, which tends to be on the heavy side. And we’re not just talking overly doctored pancakes.

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

MPAA Rating: PG

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Director: Karey Kirkpatrick

Screenwriter: Ed Solomon, Chris Matheson

Trailer

Movie Website: ImagineThatmovie.com

Actors/Actresses: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari Parker, DeRay Davis, Ronny Cox, Vanessa Williams, Timm Sharp

Our Verdict:

Imagine That doesn’t leave that much to the imagination.