FILMS

Murphy’s latest family film lacks imagination

Reviewed by Rebecca Bostic | June 18, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Think of some great Eddie Murphy movies. Now think of the well-received films he’s made in the last few years. Can’t think of any?

His latest, “Imagine That” (Paramount/Nickelodeon), won’t help. His current attempt at family-friendly humor falls painfully flat in this unforgivably predictable film.

And it isn’t just a bad script. In his recent family films — like “Meet Dave” and “Daddy Day Care” — Murphy’s penchant for physical comedy still demands laughs from all ages. But he never hits a high note in “Imagine That.”

Murphy plays Evan, a financial executive who is fighting for a higher position in his company. The only person standing between him and the job he has sought for years is Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church), a fellow financial executive who plays up his Native American heritage — in a borderline offensive manner — to convince customers to choose his investment options over Evan’s.

By making this job his god, Evan has alienated his wife and daughter, Olivia (Yara Shahidi), whom he no longer lives with. When Olivia moves in for a week, Evan discovers his daughter is extremely attached to her blanket, named “goo-gaa.”

While Evan tries to convince Olivia to give up her “goo-gaa,” he learns that — through the blanket — his daughter can find out about the financial security of the companies. After exploiting this power for a week, all the while connecting with his estranged daughter, Evan is forced to choose between Olivia and his career and — you guessed it — it’s all about “goo-gaa.”

Any audience member older than the 7-year-old Olivia can predict the ending from here.

Although “Imagine That” is the platform for a long list of cliché positive messages — value family over work, love heals everything, money can’t buy happiness, etc. — the film never strikes an authentic chord. The most important lesson to filmmakers was apparently that “All You Need Is Love” — presented painfully through an uproarious group sing-along at the end of the movie.

In fact, although Murphy’s character changes, the way in which he exploits the tenderness and love of his daughter is so pervasive, a reunion seems ridiculous and not even necessarily beneficial for Olivia.

The one message that does make a lasting impression, although you really have to look for it, is a person’s responsibility to have a postive impact on the world. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines this kind of participation as a person’s generous engagement with others.

“Participation is achieved first of all by taking charge of the areas for which one assumes personal responsibility: by the care taken for the education of his family, by conscientious work, and so forth, man participates in the good of others and society” (1914).

Although Murphy’s character takes an extremely long time to get there, “Imagine That” does illustrate a man who eventually decides to seek this “positive participation.”

Shahidi as the sweet, affable and insecure Olivia unquestionably provides the best performance in “Imagine That.” Murphy is operating at half of his comedic potential and, although Evan is not much of a character to work with, he is unable to make him someone the audience cares about.

It is fair to expect an Eddie Murphy movie to be funny at this point in his career. “Imagine That” is pleasant and at times a bit funny, but lacks impressive content in terms of story, message or performance. 

--

Media critic Rebecca Bostic is a regular contributor to The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.