Imagine That (PG) ** Dir: Karey Kirkpatrick With: Eddie Murphy, Yara Shahidi, Thomas Haden Church A corporate comedy masquerading as a family movie, Eddie Murphy's Imagine That is a curious effort that struggles to overcome the peculiarity of its premise.
Murphy plays a divorced finance executive struggling to balance fatherhood with a slump in work performance. Redemption is found in his daughter's imagination, which unlocks the key to financial success and daddy-daughter bonding.
Karey Kirkpatrick's film deserves praise for ambition and the quality of its performances from both Murphy and child star Yara Shahidi. But its corporate politics will test the patience of younger viewers, while the lack of any lavish effects during the imagined sequences also requires too big a leap.
Thomas Haden Church's pantomime villain attempts to compensate with some OTT acting but this merely serves to highlight the film's shortcomings. Ultimately, high finance and children's comedy add up to an awkward mix. Rob Carnevale
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