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June 17, 2009

'Imagine' formulaic but tolerable

By STEVE OUELLETTE, Movie Review

Imagine, yet another mediocre Eddie Murphy family comedy.

The latest entry in that ever-expanding genre is "Imagine That," an inoffensive but uninspired all-ages film that features a mostly subdued Murphy as a divorced dad learning to bond with his cutesy 6-year-old daughter, Olivia (Yara Shahidi).

Murphy plays Evan, a workaholic financial wizard (pre-recession era) who isn't a bad guy but just never had the time for his daughter and his now ex-wife (Nicole Ari Parker).

Locked in a power struggle with his mock-Native American rival Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church), however, Evan is shoved together with his daughter and forced to spend time in her world.

It turns out that her world is a fanciful land underneath her security blanket, full of dragons and invisible princesses who for some reason can offer unerringly perfect stock tips.

If you're expecting animation or CGI effects, you'll be sorely disappointed — the imaginary land remains just that, with Evan singing and whirling and dancing for our enjoyment, all in the here and now. Murphy draws a few laughs but he shows restraint and never really breaks out or turns into a caricature. He also doesn't wear a fat suit or dress like a woman, which is a bonus.

Shahidi is Hollywood-cute and meshes well with Murphy — they have a great father-daughter scene making pancakes — but she's not particularly memorable. Church also earns a few chuckles — I laughed just at his hair — as he spouts faux Native American mumbo jumbo, but that line of humor quickly runs its course.

"Imagine That" never becomes annoying, which is a nice bonus, but it never becomes completely interesting either. Predictably, there's a moral about family being more important than money, and everyone goes home happy, with the possible exception of Johnny Whitefeather.

It's formulaic, but it's tolerable. That's about the best I can say.

Rental Recommendation: The whole imaginary world thing was done so much better in "Bridge to Terabithia." Grade: B+

E-mail Steve Ouellette at: ouellette1918@gmail.com

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