Imagine That (2009)

38% of critics liked it
(112 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(261,177 ratings)

A powerful financial executive whose career was sent spiraling down the drain due to sudden lack of confidence finds the answers to his inexplicable setback in an imaginary world dreamt up by his young daughter in a fantasy comedy starring Eddie Murphy and co-scripted by Ed Solomon and Chris… More A powerful financial executive whose career was sent spiraling down the drain due to sudden lack of confidence finds the answers to his inexplicable setback in an imaginary world dreamt up by his young daughter in a fantasy comedy starring Eddie Murphy and co-scripted by Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson (the writing duo behind Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Karey Kirkpatrick
Written By: Ed Solomon, Chris Matheson
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 12, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Oct 6, 2009
Studio: Paramount Studios

Critic Reviews

Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies
This is a fairly likable family comedy.
Ben Lyons, At the Movies
[A] misguided, poorly executed family disaster.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
Cutesy? My pain was acutesy as the entire plot yawned before me.
Gary Goldstein, Chicago Tribune
Fortunately, the picture's not-so-secret weapon, star Eddie Murphy, gives this uneven effort a reason for being.
Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle
Imagine That has a few nagging problems, none of which is Eddie Murphy's fault.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Given the movie's early creative promise, the ending is disappointingly trite.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
It's silly enough that its target audience should get a kick out of it and its bearable for adults, and as far as family films go that's a lot better than you can usually expect.
Sam Bathe, Fan The Fire
You might chuckle a couple of times, but it is literally a couple, and that's nowhere near enough humour, especially for kids.
Anders Wotzke, Cut Print Review
[Murphy] continues to treat his career like it were a game of limbo, as Imagine That sees the once gifted comedian stoop to a horrendous new low.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Murphy's heart is in the right place here, if a little on the predictably unrepentant prankster side, as he does an emotionally absentee, pretending-to-listen kind of dad, simply not into the whole parenting thing.
Giles Hardie, Unknown2
Imagine That is an embarrassment from which only Thomas Haden Church emerges unscathed, because he is the only one to commit fully to his eccentric character.
Kam Williams, Sly Fox
Worthwhile, as long as you're willing to watch Eddie Murphy play the straight man.
Jake Wilson, The Age (Australia)
Murphy struggles to find work in other genres, but given the way he indulges himself with funny faces and voices, it's equally possible that he genuinely likes acting alongside children.
Des Partridge, Courier Mail (Australia)
An uncharacteristically restrained performance by Eddie Murphy, a sharply funny supporting role filled by Thomas Haden Church, and a beguiling new child actor, Yara Shahidi, make this fantasy-comedy about the power of imagination agreeable enough.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
Ham fisted and formulaic, Imagine That nevertheless has some endearing qualities to save it from the trash can %u2013 notably Yara Shahidi, the cute little bundle whose smartly innocent presence and likeable little face are so loved by the camera that dir
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
Eddie Murphy, in his hyperactive comedic guise, is in fine fettle in this family-friendly comedy, although he is largely upstaged by his enchanting 7 year old co-star Yara Shahidi, who steals scenes as quickly as Murphy talks.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Twenty years ago it would've been hard to imagine that the typical formula for an Eddie Murphy vehicle would have changed so dramatically.
Sonny Bunch, Washington Times
It's a sad reflection on Eddie Murphy's career that the best thing you can say about Imagine That is that there aren't any fat suits.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
[A] characteristically laboured comedy.
, This is London
It's anodyne stuff and not funny enough.

Read all 25 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael E

it couldve been funnier, but its a safe family friendly comedy film that is entertaining for the whole family
Bently L

A horrid family film. While the child star is convincing, Eddie Murphy was so bad in this film. He was both a terrible father and buisnessman! A film so bad, it makes "The Game Plan" look like "Raiders of the Lost Ark"! When your career is down the drain, make… More
A horrid family film. While the child star is convincing, Eddie Murphy was so bad in this film. He was both a terrible father and buisnessman! A film so bad, it makes "The Game Plan" look like "Raiders of the Lost Ark"! When your career is down the drain, make kids movies!
Alexis N

There aren't too many movies with Eddie Murphy that I don't like and I really like the movies with him and kids. Daddy Day Care = awesome. Anyway, this movie was adorable. You really hate Eddie in the beginning, he's so selfish and business minded. But when his… More
There aren't too many movies with Eddie Murphy that I don't like and I really like the movies with him and kids. Daddy Day Care = awesome. Anyway, this movie was adorable. You really hate Eddie in the beginning, he's so selfish and business minded. But when his daughter's blanket gives him stock tips, he starts to open up. I thought it was cute and funny. Yara Shahidi is so cute, I want to squeeze her to death.
Spencer S

It had enough love and support to be good, but not enough follow through.
Richard C

C-
Nicki M

Could not say it did a lot for me, although I have to admit the little girl in it is cute, (which is not something I normally say about child actors unless they are Dakota Fanning. LOL). Eddie Murphy, as usual, is over the top. So is Thomas Haden Church, but it works on him. I… More
Could not say it did a lot for me, although I have to admit the little girl in it is cute, (which is not something I normally say about child actors unless they are Dakota Fanning. LOL). Eddie Murphy, as usual, is over the top. So is Thomas Haden Church, but it works on him. I can''t imagine who would love this one really. Kids would be bored with all the office stuff and adults would find it too stupid.
Brian D

Not really funny and its been done before and better.Eddie Murphy needs to go back to he's roots and give us something better. Beverly Hills Cop 4 is surpose to be around the coner, maybe that will bring back ?
Pedro H

â€œImagine that nickelodeon has done better this summer than Disney (G-Force)â€ Family fun for every one, Eddie Murphy has done it again, apart from his major role as always and always taking the credit, you cant help admitting he still has it going on he had the movie entirely… More
â€œImagine that nickelodeon has done better this summer than Disney (G-Force)â€ Family fun for every one, Eddie Murphy has done it again, apart from his major role as always and always taking the credit, you cant help admitting he still has it going on he had the movie entirely suited for his audience, so if you are a Meet Dave, or The Huanted Mansion fan, this will still make you a fan of Eddie Murphy, on the other hand if you hated Pluto Nash, well lets leave that one out. Evan Danielson : Please let me pass!
Kyle F

"Imagine That" is a good comedy, if not the funniest. But what it lacks in humor it makes up for with charm and being interesting. Yara Shahidi and Eddie Murphy are great, as are the cinematography and the visually pleasing sets.
Jeff B

Like a well-oiled door-to-door salesman, Eddie Murphy’s likeable shtick proves so compelling that he could pretty much sell ice cream to an Eskimo pie…but not bad movies to a discerning public (Exhibit A: Meet Dave). For over 100 minutes, he mugs, sings, dances, pratfalls, and mugs… More
Like a well-oiled door-to-door salesman, Eddie Murphy’s likeable shtick proves so compelling that he could pretty much sell ice cream to an Eskimo pie…but not bad movies to a discerning public (Exhibit A: Meet Dave). For over 100 minutes, he mugs, sings, dances, pratfalls, and mugs some more—for what reason, your reviewer hasn’t a clue. Though his comic talents hard sell Imagine That like a politician working a room full of fat cat investors, Murphy cannot ultimately pawn off this predictable drivel on filmgoers. Because of its clever hook, the movie is certainly not the worst of its ilk. For a film called Imagine That, however, it is amazing how unimaginative this property ends up even with the good graces of Murphy. In the PG-rated Imagine That, Murphy plays a financial investor who normally has no time for his daughter. When her make-believe friends start to spot profitable trends in the stock market with alarming regularity, however, this exec suddenly takes a newfound interest in his daughter. The doe-eyed tot is cute, Murphy goes about his knockabout Daddy Day Care man-against-tot routine, and the audience is just supposed to buy it hook, line, and stinker. Though the concept proves winning, the follow-through is just too pre-packaged and cloying to feel genuine. Murphy is a driven exec, but moviegoers ultimately know more about the daughter’s fantasy world than they do about the main character. The characters – save for Thomas Hayden Church as an opportunistic faux-Native-American – are merely paper dolls in a connect-the-dots activity book. Bottom Line: Little imagination.
Dannielle A

A predictable tale that is only mildly funny and slightly annoying. Yara Shahidi is an excellent little actress but it was hard to like her character because she was spoiled rotten and conversed with spirits. (Perhaps that wasn't the screenwriter's intention, but it sure… More
A predictable tale that is only mildly funny and slightly annoying. Yara Shahidi is an excellent little actress but it was hard to like her character because she was spoiled rotten and conversed with spirits. (Perhaps that wasn't the screenwriter's intention, but it sure seemed like she was involved in witchcraft unintentionally.) Plus there were occult symbols throughout the movie like the pyramid (unless she was just her building a pyramid with blocks.) Also, a blanket seemingly possess a magical power to summon spirits. An Indian man compels his son to perform a magic ritual to contact spirits. The movie tries to dumb us down by making us believe these spirits are "imaginary friends" but all evidence points to the fact that they are real. For one, they are always right with their information, and at the end they seem real with the rush of wind and twinking noises. There were lots of annoying aspects like the fact that a man would never leave his important meeting at work because his daughter wouldn't go inside from recess. Also, in real life, a man wouldn't leave in the middle of the most important "promotion of his life" meeting because of his daughters school play. There will be other plays...Yes, being an involved dad is important, but that meeting was pivotal and of course it's all right in the end because it's a movie, but in real life, he'd probably be fired.
Fascade F

A fun filled re-union with Ronnie Cox from Beverly Hills Cop...Eddie Murphy does whatever it takes to keep his career on track as well as his relationship with his daughter alive through the power if the "goo-gaa"...whatever you do...don't eat the pancakes! LOL! A… More
A fun filled re-union with Ronnie Cox from Beverly Hills Cop...Eddie Murphy does whatever it takes to keep his career on track as well as his relationship with his daughter alive through the power if the "goo-gaa"...whatever you do...don't eat the pancakes! LOL! A wonderful family story bonding the power of imagination with the harsh realities of the real world. See this...it is enjoyable!
Naughtia N

Evan is a highly succesful business man who is more focused on his career than his little daughter. When things spiral downwards in his job he discovers that his daughter's imaginary world is very helpful at giving him advice to important decisions in his job. I know that Eddie… More
Evan is a highly succesful business man who is more focused on his career than his little daughter. When things spiral downwards in his job he discovers that his daughter's imaginary world is very helpful at giving him advice to important decisions in his job. I know that Eddie Murphy's movies haven't been great in the last few years but this one is better than his other latest comedies. I thought this movie was sweet and I'm happy to see Eddie Murphy in this kinds of movie again, the girl who played his daughter is absolutely adorable, I just want to hug her. This movie is great for a family night in, adorable.
Juan C

a delightfully funny family comedy that has a lot of spunk and eddie murphy in one of his funniest roles. B+
Christopher O

Good family film with a good moral not stupid just sweet and realistic and I think Eddie was winning and gives a solid performance.The little girl is adorable.
Wu C

What a turkey. A good cast wasted on a predictable story. Murphy is a deadbeat dad in real life, so I had a problem seeing him as a do gooder. Save your time.
Sam C

Poor Eddie...
Jim W

A financial executive (Eddie Murphy) is up for a new job against a strange Indian dude (Thomas Haden Church). Getting his daughter (Yara Shahidi) for a couple of days turns out to be good for his job. She gets valuable information from her imaginary fairy friends. It's a… More
A financial executive (Eddie Murphy) is up for a new job against a strange Indian dude (Thomas Haden Church). Getting his daughter (Yara Shahidi) for a couple of days turns out to be good for his job. She gets valuable information from her imaginary fairy friends. It's a strange but cute movie. It is a bit stupid when Murphy repeats the childish words of his child at work, like "poopy" and his colleagues still take him seriously. But the father and daughter chemistry between Murphy and Yara Shahidi makes the movie worth watching. Shahidi is adorable and surprisingly pretty good,
d j

Suprisingly, it's not that bad. It's a cute family film for everyone of all ages. The little girl is adorable!!!
David C

It has a good message, but one that is played over and again in other Hollywood movies. This is a very predictable flick. I kept thinking that it was going to surprize me and give me an unexpected turn, but it never happened. The little girl who plays Eddie Murphy's daughter… More
It has a good message, but one that is played over and again in other Hollywood movies. This is a very predictable flick. I kept thinking that it was going to surprize me and give me an unexpected turn, but it never happened. The little girl who plays Eddie Murphy's daughter is excellent and definitely has a future in the movies. Eddie Murphy tried hard, but the lines and a good plot were missing.