Eddie Murphy is a busy man turning out at least one or two movies a year. Most, such as Norbit, Meet Dave, and Daddy Day Care, have narrow demographics. Yet Murphy is still a huge box office money-maker, particularly outside the United States. In Imagine That Murphy teams up with Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies to star in a kid flick that is mildly entertaining.
Eddie Murphy and Yara Shahidi
Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy) is a high profile financial executive advisor who is more interested in work than his own family. Olivia (Yara Shahidi), his seven-year-old daughter, loves her blue blanket and frequently talks to her imaginary friends. Evan ignores this at first until Olivia’s imaginary friends start telling her accurate information about companies he’s considering for stock purchases. When the predictions come true, Evan sees this as a possibility to become his companies West Coast Financial Executive.
Evan also sees this as a way to beat out his over-the-top competition, his advisor Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church), who uses Indian spirits to guide his clients in picking the right companies. Evan soon starts to exploit his daughter in getting information, which of course, ends up causing problems with his family and career.
Thomas Haden Church & Eddie Murphy
I found this movie another attempt by Murphy to keep cranking out non-depth money-making movies. Murphy does his usual comedic style, changing his voice and acting silly at the proper moments. One bright note in Imagine That is Shahidi, who is spot on and impressive in her film debut. Clear and concise in her dialogue, she keeps up with her co-stars comedic antics.
Thomas Haden Church as Whitefeather is laughable, and I’m surprised he accepted such a goofy role. However, he’s proved to be a very versatile actor being nominated for many awards including his Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Sideways.
Martin Sheen plays Dante D'Enzo, a financial tycoon who has to decide between Evan and Whitefeather to lead the west coast division. Seen only in the last ten minutes of the film, Sheen has no problem playing his usual tough man who must make difficult decisions.
Imagine That isn’t the best film of the year, and a majority of the film is filled with Evan’s silly stunts so he can get into Olivia’s imaginary kingdom to get the information he needs – he thinks – to succeed. Moms and kids will enjoy Imagine That the most.
Photo credits: Bruce McBroom / Paramount Pictures Corporation
