Imagine That (PG, 2009)

common sense media says

Sugary sweet father-daughter comedy is fine for families.


parents & educators say
  • 42% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this Eddie Murphy father-daughter comedy is aimed squarely at families, so expect your kids to be interested. The good news is that it's mostly tame and family-friendly, except for a few exclamations like "crap" and "hell" and some possibly off-putting, over-the-top references/jokes regarding Native Americans and their culture. While Murphy's character starts out primarily interested in furthering his career, he ultimately learns an important lesson about putting his daughter first.

Positive messages: Putting your family first is really the plot of this film.
Positive role models: Evan, a workaholic dad, finally bonds with his daughter and decides to
make her the top priority in his life. On the other hand, for most of
the movie, he uses her special blanket's magical skills to further his
career, even resorting to stealing security blankets to attempt to make
his own connection with the princesses.Native American culture is referenced, in many cases for a laugh. The
character who acts like a Native American is exposed to be a fraud.
Violence & scariness: Several comic pratfalls.
Sexy stuff: Olivia says her mom is "friends" with a coworker who looks like "Prince Charming." The mom and her date are shown together at an event. Evan acts jealous.
Language: Mild insults like "stupid," "poop," and exclamations like "loads of crap," "cut the crap," "oh my God," "shut up," and "what the hell."
Consumerism: Featured brands include Dell computers, Mercedes, the TV show Blue's Clues, the children's book Olivia, the Denver Nuggets, and Red Bull energy drink.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Imagine That

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the movie's messages about work-family balance. 
  • What does Evan learn by the time the movie is over? 
  • Was Olivia's fantasy world important because it helped Evan get ahead or because it helped them bond? 
  • Families can also discuss the movie's Native American jokes/references. Are they funny? Is humor based on stereotypes OK?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Evan (Eddie Murphy) is a successful investment manager who's up for a huge promotion. But the same week that he has to outperform his scene-stealing competitor Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church) in client meetings, his ex-wife sends their daughter Olivia (Yara Shahidi) to stay with him. As the week progresses, it becomes clear that Olivia's special security blanket, "Goo Ga," and her imaginary princess friends are prescient about business deals. When Evan loosens up and starts believing in Olivia's unseen pals, it looks like he'll be a shoo-in for the big job.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Murphy's live-action family films are hit (Dr. Dolittle) or miss (Meet Dave) -- IMAGINE THAT seems a bit more like the former than the latter. The premise is simple, the story is like a younger-skewing Bedtime Stories-meets-Bridge to Terabithia (minus all the special effects, since we never actually see Olivia's magical kingdom), and the manic Murphy quotient (how often his comedy goes way over the top) is kept to an amusing but not annoying level. Compared to some of Murphy's recent stinkers, this charming little father-daughter tale is perfect family matinee fare.

The main reason for the movie's appeal is the adorable chemistry between Murphy and Shahidi. The kid isn't just cute, but believably enchanting. Haden Church's Native American poser is funny half the time and borderline offensive the other, depending on the scene. His funniest bit (and perhaps the only laugh-out-loud moment in the movie) is when Whitefeather plies his son with Red Bull, covers him with a ceremonial Navajo blanket, and tries to extract financial prophecies. Silly and a bit stereotypical? Sure. Funny? Definitely.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Karey Kirkpatrick
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: June 12, 2009
DVD release: October 6, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: some mild language and brief questionable behavior
Watch our review

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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What parents & educators say

6
Based on 12 parent & educator reviews:
  • 42% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

sona622
teen, 14 years old
 
Little kid, and very stupid
Hate it. Very stupid and does not make sense.

Poison Ivey
teen, 17 years old
 
The movie itself was very cute and so funny! I watched it with my dad and he was like turning red and dying of laughter. It was all good and nothing bad (except some racism), but the language was kind of innapropriate. Crap, cut the crap, loads of crap, hell, shut up, stupida, and poop were used and even though (with the shows they watch) it's nothing new to your young ones, it's NOT setting a great example. Cut the language, and the movies fine for 6 and up.

jtcosby
adult
 
Seriously, can't it be clean language for the entire movie?
Won't let them see this one again. There is NO reason to use ANY foul language and yet, there you go...

Little movie freak
teen, 15 years old
 
Eddie Murphy makes this movie a pretty funny and good movie.
Eddie Murphy stars in this funny,and sweet father-daughter film. I think that kids ages 5+ will like and enjoy this funny family film. I recommend this for kids who like Eddie Murphy and his funny movies. I gave this funny film a 3 out of 4 stars.

sumiyah
teen, 15 years old
 
love it

a10d38
teen, 14 years old
 
perfect for any age
It was sooo hilarious its a great movie nothings bad its a most see

hunter98
kid, 13 years old
 
it was cute
i want to buy the movie its cute funny not bad but 1 wth the rest its all good for 5 and up

bolter
kid, 10 years old
 
awesome
I love this movie ! Very age appropriate. FUNNYYYY

musicfan789
teen, 14 years old
 
cute movie
cute movie with a good moral although the dad is a little crazy in some parts including he almost steals something out of someones house after breaking into it i think it was a very appropriate movie

4Spice
adult
 
good family movie
a good clean family movie 5 and up

Nintendo_DSiXL
teen, 15 years old
 
Very BORING, Never want to see it again

Suburban Mom ...
parent of and 5 , 6 , 9 , 11 , 12 year old
 
Message meant for adults
This movie was about parents learning to put their child before their career, which is really a message for adults, not kids. The father seemed to be nice, but stole from his daughter and used his daughter to get ahead in his career. Another character gave Red Bull to his son to get him to come up with some good stock picks. All my kids (3,5,7,9,11) were bored and did not get what the father was doing with his daughter (he was having her imaginary friends make stock picks for him).

clevermom3
educator and parent of and 2 , 8 , 11 year old
 

DP
parent of 6 and 10 year old
 
Great movie for the whole family!
Awesome movie!! Our whole family enjoyed it tons - a must-see... Eddie Murphy at his best! I also thought that the little girl did a great job acting...

masterchief117
kid, 12 years old
 
a movie for the family
a great movie and with the language thing i don't think 'poop' and 'stupid' are swears and i dont really think 'hell' is ethier so this is a movie every one can enjoy but from the look of it teens hate it. two uses of the word c**p at the end.

big bad alex
kid, 10 years old
 

nearlyfallinstar
parent of 2 year old
 
Great Family Flick
This was a cute movie overall. There were a few words I wouldn't want my girls to use, but nothing too profane. The father (Eddie) had some temper tantrums that would have landed him in time out at my house, but the moral was positive. He chooses his family over work and he is rewarded for his choice.

Spongebob Fan
kid, 13 years old
 
Cute Movie for Daughter and Father Days
My sister and I went and saw this in the theater with our dad. It was really cute and funny. There are very mixed messages here, though. At the beginning (and 97 percent of the movie), Evan neglects Olivia until she starts giving him 'clues' to help unlock his potential in his career. He uses her 'talent' of imagination, which is using his daughter for his own personal gain. Then, at the end, he learns to love her, but the movie starts out making you like an awful character. Nothing to worry about when it comes to violence other than a few comical falls, sexy stuff is just talking about 'Prince Charming' and her mom being "friends" (more than, in reality), no bad language other than a few words, no drinking, drugs, or smoking, no consumerism other than "Red Bull" (a kid gets hyped up on the drink). So father and daughters should watch it together. It has some laughs wrapped up in the 'bundle of fun'!

sarascheibs24
kid, 11 years old
 
So sweet!
This movie is so sweet. There's nothing really wrong with this movie. I love it!!!!

Matan
kid, 10 years old
 
comedy feel - good slapstick
very funny but i'll say there are some parts that i expectthat for for age s 0-9 year olds should not watch

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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