Imagine That
Imagine That is a film that sensitively deals with a father-daughter relationship. It will take you to the Fantasy World where Evan (Eddie Murphy) prospers in his place of work, who is a high-flying investment advisor and he gets tips that work unimaginably well for his career.
So, who does he get the tips from? It is from his daughter’s friends whom we cannot see as they were all her imaginary beings. However, you will simply be bowled over by the superlative performance from Yara Shahidi who played Evan’s daughter Olivia.
Olivia is a growing 7-year-old child who stays with Nicole Ari Parker who plays the role of Trish, Evans former wife. So, Olivia does not know much about her father. It is Trish who insists that it’s high time that Olivia should spend some quality time with her father to know more about him. On the other hand, Evan is too preoccupied with his job and he cannot think anything beyond ordinary realm of his promotion in the Denver firm.
In the midst of these Olivia begins to stay with Evan. Evan fails to get any babysitter and he takes Olivia to his office. To his utter horror and shock he finds that Olivia has splashed with colors on his important office documents that were essential for a very crucial meeting. Finally, the meeting goes bad and he gets upstaged by his competitor Johnny Whitefeather played by Thomas Haden Church.
In office, Evan gives a response to Johnny’s advices to people with thoughts improvised from Olivia’s stories. He comes to office with a premonition that he will be fired; instead he was surprised that his advices have reaped much benefit for people.
The question that keeps wondering as how Olivia knew all these and how did her advice worked so great. In fact, it was Olivia’s world of fairy princess that talks to her when she wears that blue blanket over her head. But, Evan did not know how it happened, but he found himself turning on to Olivia for every small tips and advice. Each one proved so correct for Evan.
The film is not out-righting funny except for one loud scene in which kids will burst out into laughter. In this shot, Evan is asked by Olivia to eat pancakes that are topped with ketchup, chocolate sauce, mustard and hot sauce. Seeing this the kids laugh out, they might not understand the jokes behind it, but the food play they can well understand. And enjoy.
Eddie Murphy plays the character with sincerity and the role reflects a very conscious, lonely yet a warm-hearted man and a loving father. But the relationship blossomed on celluloid with the beautiful performance from the newcomer Yara Shahidi. She is really 7 years old and has played only few episodes in the serial In The Motherhood. She was very cute and natural and in every scene she exudes beaming confidence.
Another important role played in Imagine That is by Thomas Haden Church. In his role he was in a mission to score more points in the boardroom by defeating Eddie Murphy. His role was not offensive, instead was quite funny and you will understand it better if you get to know ore about Whitefeather as you watch the movie.
However, directed by Kary Kirkpatrick, this film is too predictable for the adults and not that broad for the kids. The film still counted on dramatic clichés such as a parent entering late in child’s concert. The director is also the writer of animated films such as Over The hedge and Chicken Run.
Anyways, the fact remains had the Wall Street worked on Olivia’s advice from her world of imaginary friend we would not have been in recession.
Cast: Eddie Murphy as Evan, Bobb’e J. Thompson as The Kid, Thomas Haden Church as Whitefeather, Nicole Ari Parker, James Patrick Stuart as Mr. Pratt, Ronny Cox, Vanessa Williams as Lori Struthers
Directed by: Karey Kirkpatrick
Written by: Ed Solomon, Chris Matheson
Running time: 107 minutes.
Rated: PG for some mild language and brief questionable behavior
Rating: 2.5/5
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Posted on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 at 2:51 pm