|
No edit summary
Tags: Reverted Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit
|
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
|
||
| (46 intermediate revisions by 30 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|2009 film by Karey Kirkpatrick}} |
{{Short description|2009 film by Karey Kirkpatrick}} |
||
{{redirect|NowhereLand|other topics|Nowhere Land (disambiguation)}} |
|||
{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
||
| name = Imagine That |
| name = Imagine That |
||
| Line 38: | Line 39: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
| language = English |
| language = English |
||
| budget = $55 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=imaginethat.htm|title=Imagine That (2009)|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=April 23, 2020 }}</ref> |
| budget = $55 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=imaginethat.htm|title=Imagine That (2009)|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=April 23, 2020|archive-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630105745/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=imaginethat.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
| gross = $23 million<ref name="mojo"/> |
| gross = $23 million<ref name="mojo"/> |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''Imagine That''''' is a 2009 |
'''''Imagine That''''' is a 2009 [[comedy film]] starring [[Eddie Murphy]], directed by [[Karey Kirkpatrick]], and written by [[Ed Solomon]] and [[Chris Matheson (screenwriter)|Chris Matheson]]. It centers on the relationship between a workaholic father (Murphy) and his daughter, Olivia ([[Yara Shahidi]]), whose imaginary world becomes the secret to her father's success. |
||
The film had its premiere at the Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios Lot in Los Angeles, California and was then widely released on June 12, 2009. Murphy was nominated for a [[Golden Raspberry Award]] for [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]] for his work in the film. The film was a co-production between [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Nickelodeon Movies]]. |
The film had its premiere at the Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios Lot in [[Los Angeles]], California and was then widely released on June 12, 2009. Murphy was nominated for a [[Golden Raspberry Award]] for [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]] for his work in the film. The film was a co-production between [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[Nickelodeon Movies]]. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was a [[box office bomb]], grossing $25 million against a budget of $55 million. |
||
==Plot== |
==Plot== |
||
Evan Danielson |
Evan Danielson is a successful financial advisor, who had been working at the same securities firm for eight years as their top account manager, until Johnny Whitefeather was hired as his rival. Whitefeather seems to have the whole company under a spell as he spiels his nonsensical idioms filled with Native American mumbo jumbo. The top executives seem more content with chanting Indian-style noises than listening to how they can make money through sound investments. |
||
When Evan discovers that his daughter, Olivia |
When Evan discovers that his daughter, Olivia is able to tell the future within the financial world by using her "goo-gaa" comfort [[blanket]] and her [[imaginary friends]] (Queen Qwali and Princesses Kupida, Sopida and Mopida), he gains an invaluable upper hand at the office. During work, Olivia draws all over Evan's worksheets for a meeting. Outraged, Evan goes to the meeting and he shows off the paperwork and explains that ChemStar is sparkly, and Aerodyne and Yellowfin will get married, confusing his colleagues. Evan thinks he is about to be fired, but his boss informs him that all his predictions came through. The share price of ChemStar shot up, while Aerodyne and Yellowfin were preparing to merge. |
||
After only a few days with Olivia, Evan rediscovers his inner child, and has fun playing imaginary games with |
After only a few days with Olivia, Evan rediscovers his inner child, and has fun playing imaginary games with her. Whitefeather becomes suspicious and begins to search for his secret. When he learns that Evan was just playing with a wakalyapi blanket, Whitefeather pays six thousand dollars for one, ordering his son to tell him the future and keeping him up all night by making him drink cans of [[Red Bull]]. |
||
Whitefeather and Evan are now competing for the position of |
Whitefeather and Evan are now competing for the position of head of the Western division of the company D.D.E. In order to be prepared for the presentation, Evan again needs to invoke the use of the Goo-Gaa blanket and meet with the princesses. However, Olivia is spending the night at her friend's house, and there is no way for Evan to obtain the Goo-Gaa without taking it from her. Also, the presentations will be held at the time of Olivia's class play. |
||
Evan gets Olivia to give him the Goo-Gaa, but she cries because he seems to care only about the blanket, not her. He returns home, tries to get the princesses' attention, then starts working on his presentation. As hours pass, Evan stretches, and the Goo-Gaa falls on the floor, but he continues working without noticing. |
|||
| ⚫ |
Evan |
||
| ⚫ | Evan goes to the presentation instead of Olivia's class concert. Johnny gives his presentation, but his idea is too crazy for Dante D'Enzo, the owner of the company. When Evan is about to present, he suddenly decides to go to Olivia's class concert, and leaves the presentation. As he drives over, Evan changes into a king costume. At the concert, Olivia is unable to sing her solo part. Evan appears dressed as a king, and she starts singing, delighted to see him. |
||
| ⚫ |
After the class concert, Evan tells Olivia how sorry he is for misusing her blanket, not caring about her, and for using the princesses for the wrong reason. |
||
| ⚫ | After the class concert, Evan tells Olivia how sorry he is for misusing her blanket, seemingly not caring about her, and for using the princesses for the wrong reason. Evan and Olivia say good-bye to the princesses, as she says it is time to let them go. They both start waving and, although there is no wind, some leaves fly off into the sky. |
||
D'Enzo offers the position to Evan because his resolve in leaving the presentation demonstrated to D'Enzo that he is not just a sycophant, and his presentation notes showed impressive ideas. Evan accepts. |
|||
Evan, Olivia's mother Trish, and Olivia leave happy. |
|||
==Cast== |
==Cast== |
||
| Line 80: | Line 87: | ||
* Chelsea Barker as School Choir Member |
* Chelsea Barker as School Choir Member |
||
* David Freese as School Choir Member |
* David Freese as School Choir Member |
||
* [[Traci Paige Johnson]] |
* [[Traci Paige Johnson]] as Blue (voice, uncredited) |
||
* [[Donovan Patton]] as Joe (uncredited) |
* [[Donovan Patton]] as Joe (uncredited) |
||
* [[Timm Sharp]] as Todd |
* [[Timm Sharp]] as Todd |
||
| Line 86: | Line 93: | ||
==Production== |
==Production== |
||
The working title for the film was "Nowhereland".<ref>{{cite web|date=11 June 2009|last=Calhoun|first=Patricia|title=Colorado Film Commission, Take 2|url=https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-film-commission-take-2-5104086|website=Westword}}</ref> |
The working title for the film was "Nowhereland".<ref>{{cite web|date=11 June 2009|last=Calhoun|first=Patricia|title=Colorado Film Commission, Take 2|url=https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-film-commission-take-2-5104086|website=Westword|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624042524/https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-film-commission-take-2-5104086|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
Filming ran from 10 September to 14 December in 2007, at locations including [[Denver]]<ref>{{cite web|title=In "Imagine That," Denver gleams, the script doesn't|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/06/10/in-imagine-that-denver-gleams-the-script-doesnt/|website=The Denver Post|date=10 June 2009}}</ref> and [[Los Angeles]] |
Filming ran from 10 September to 14 December in 2007, at locations including [[Denver]]<ref>{{cite web|title=In "Imagine That," Denver gleams, the script doesn't|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/06/10/in-imagine-that-denver-gleams-the-script-doesnt/|website=The Denver Post|date=10 June 2009|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927024210/https://www.denverpost.com/2009/06/10/in-imagine-that-denver-gleams-the-script-doesnt/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Los Angeles]] with ''[[Chicken Run]]'' screenwriter and ''[[Over the Hedge]]'' director [[Karey Kirkpatrick]]. |
||
==Music== |
==Music== |
||
The score to ''Imagine That'' was composed by [[Mark Mancina]], who recorded his score with an 83-piece ensemble of the [[Hollywood Studio Symphony]] at the Sony Scoring Stage.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dan Goldwasser|url=http://www.scoringsessions.com/news/144|title=Mark Mancina scores ''NowhereLand''|publisher=ScoringSessions.com|date=June 17, 2008|access-date=June 17, 2008}}</ref> |
The score to ''Imagine That'' was composed by [[Mark Mancina]], who recorded his score with an 83-piece ensemble of the [[Hollywood Studio Symphony]] at the Sony Scoring Stage.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dan Goldwasser|url=http://www.scoringsessions.com/news/144|title=Mark Mancina scores ''NowhereLand''|publisher=ScoringSessions.com|date=June 17, 2008|access-date=June 17, 2008|archive-date=June 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622145516/http://www.scoringsessions.com/news/144/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
The film soundtrack features several covers of [[Beatles]] songs, such as "[[Got to Get You into My Life]]", "[[Nowhere Man (song)|Nowhere Man]]", and two different versions of "[[Here Comes the Sun]]", while the song "[[All You Need Is Love]]" plays a part in the film's plot. |
The film soundtrack features several covers of [[Beatles]] songs, such as "[[Got to Get You into My Life]]", "[[Nowhere Man (song)|Nowhere Man]]", and two different versions of "[[Here Comes the Sun]]", while the song "[[All You Need Is Love]]" plays a part in the film's plot. |
||
| Line 96: | Line 103: | ||
==Reception== |
==Reception== |
||
===Box office=== |
===Box office=== |
||
On its opening weekend, the film ran sixth, grossing $5.5 million in 3,008 theaters with |
On its opening weekend, the film ran sixth, grossing $5.5 million in 3,008 theaters with a $1,830 average.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2009&wknd=24&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office Results for June 12–14, 2009|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=June 14, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009|archive-date=June 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617051853/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2009&wknd=24&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The film went on to gross $22.3 million worldwide.<ref name="mojo"/> This opening was similar to Murphy's previous summer movie, ''[[Meet Dave]]'', which also had a lackluster opening week. However, ''Meet Dave'' received worse reviews than ''Imagine That''. ''Imagine That'' was released in the [[United Kingdom]] on August 14, 2009, and failed to reach the Top 15.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.25thframe.co.uk/charts/chart.php?chart=20090814|title=Weekend box office 14th August 2009 - 16th August 2009|publisher=www.25thframe.co.uk|access-date=21 January 2018|archive-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122071951/https://www.25thframe.co.uk/charts/chart.php?chart=20090814|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
About the movie's modest success, Murphy said: "The movie didn’t have a chance at the box office – it’s just me and this little girl and a blanket."<ref>{{cite |
About the movie's modest success, Murphy said: "The movie didn’t have a chance at the box office – it’s just me and this little girl and a blanket."<ref>{{cite magazine|date=9 November 2011|last=Hiatt|first=Brian|title=Eddie Murphy Speaks: The Rolling Stone Interview|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/eddie-murphy-speaks-the-rolling-stone-interview-111885/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> He said that he considers the movie one of the worst he has made, and said: "If I really want to cry, I'll put on 'Imagine That'."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kyriazis|first=Stefan|date=August 23, 2016|title=Eddie Murphy WILL return to stand-up comedy as he CRIES revealing his three worst films|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/702456/Eddie-Murphy-worst-film-stand-up-comedy-Pluto-Nash-Meet-Dave-Mr-Church|website=Express.co.uk|access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220062927/https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/702456/Eddie-Murphy-worst-film-stand-up-comedy-Pluto-Nash-Meet-Dave-Mr-Church|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
===Critical response=== |
===Critical response=== |
||
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 41% based on 120 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Despite a promising turn by newcomer Yara Shahidi, ''Imagine That'' is another pedestrian family comedy that squanders Eddie Murphy's comedic talents."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1190964-imagine_that/|title=Imagine That |
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 41% based on 120 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Despite a promising turn by newcomer Yara Shahidi, ''Imagine That'' is another pedestrian family comedy that squanders Eddie Murphy's comedic talents."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1190964-imagine_that/|title=Imagine That|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|date=June 14, 2009|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=June 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618143925/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1190964-imagine_that/|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 54 out of 100, based on reviews from 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/imaginethat|title=Imagine That (2009): Review|work=Metacritic|publisher=[[Red Ventures]]|access-date=June 19, 2009|archive-date=June 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612020644/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/imaginethat|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade "A−" on scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|title=Imagine That (2009) A-|work=CinemaScore|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|archive-date=20 December 2018}}</ref> |
||
[[Joe Leydon]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called it "An undemandingly pleasant, mildly amusing fantasy."<ref>{{cite web|date=7 June 2009|last=Leydon|first=Joe|author-link=Joe Leydon|title=Imagine That|url=https://variety.com/review/VE1117940426|website=Variety|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806112635/https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/imagine-that-1200507028/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' wrote: "The result is a much more playable film than recent efforts, though Murphy will have to share the applause with young Yara Shahidi."<ref>{{cite web|date=7 June 2009|first=Kirk|last=Honeycutt|title=Imagine That -- Film Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imagine-film-review-93252|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=22 February 2021|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806112623/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/imagine-film-review-93252/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]''{{'}}s Trevor Johnston called the film "dreadfully flat" and gave it one out of five stars, chastising it for a lack of funny moments.<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Trevor |title=Imagine That |url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/imagine-that-1 |website=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=August 11, 2009 |archive-date=11 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611025929/https://www.timeout.com/movies/imagine-that-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Brandy McDonnell of ''[[The Oklahoman]]'' praised the filmmakers' restraint in not visualizing Olivia's fantasy worlds, instead inviting the viewer to share in Evan's efforts to navigate his daughter's imagination. While she found the film becomes overly predictable in its later stretches, she concluded that the overall strong storyline, Murphy's unusually disciplined performance, and the strong acting by Shahidi and Church make it an engaging watch.<ref>{{cite web |last=McDonnell |first=Brandy |title=Movie Review: 'Imagine That' Is Unexpectedly Engaging |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2009/06/12/movie-review-imagine-that-is-unexpectedly-engaging/61395316007/ |website=[[The Oklahoman]] |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=June 12, 2009 |archive-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806112621/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2009/06/12/movie-review-imagine-that-is-unexpectedly-engaging/61395316007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' called it "Amusing without ever being break-out funny."<ref>{{cite web|date=June 10, 2009|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=Using his Securities Blanket|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/imagine-that-2009|website=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=February 22, 2021|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125073019/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/imagine-that-2009|url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
Joe Leydon of [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] called it "An undemandingly pleasant, mildly amusing fantasy."<ref>{{cite web|date=7 June 2009|last=Leydon|first=Joe|author-link=Joe Leydon|title=Imagine That|url=https://variety.com/review/VE1117940426|website=Variety}}</ref> |
|||
Kirk Honeycutt of [[The Hollywood Reporter]] wrote: "The result is a much more playable film than recent efforts, though Murphy will have to share the applause with young Yara Shahidi."<ref>{{cite web|date=7 June 2009|author=Kirk Honeycutt|author-link=Kirk Honeycutt|title=Imagine That -- Film Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imagine-film-review-93252|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> |
|||
[[Roger Ebert]] of the [[Chicago Sun-Times]] called it "Amusing without ever being break-out funny."<ref>{{cite web|date=June 10, 2009|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=Using his Securities Blanket|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/imagine-that-2009|website=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> |
|||
===Accolades=== |
===Accolades=== |
||
| Line 113: | Line 118: | ||
! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Result |
! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Result |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|rowspan="2"|[[30th Golden Raspberry Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/7391549/Sandra-Bullock-wins-worst-actress-at-the-Razzies.html|title=Sandra Bullock wins 'worst actress' at the Razzies|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=March 7, 2010|access-date=March 7, 2010}}</ref> |
|rowspan="2"|[[30th Golden Raspberry Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/7391549/Sandra-Bullock-wins-worst-actress-at-the-Razzies.html|title=Sandra Bullock wins 'worst actress' at the Razzies|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=March 7, 2010|access-date=March 7, 2010|archive-date=March 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310064509/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/7391549/Sandra-Bullock-wins-worst-actress-at-the-Razzies.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
|[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]] |
|[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]] |
||
|rowspan="2"|[[Eddie Murphy]] |
|rowspan="2"|[[Eddie Murphy]] |
||
| Line 129: | Line 134: | ||
==Home media== |
==Home media== |
||
''Imagine That'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] on October 13, 2009.<ref> |
''Imagine That'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]] on October 13, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://homevideo.about.com/od/dvdsvideosa/fr/Imagine-That-DVD-a.htm |title='Imagine That' - Homevideo.about.com |access-date=2009-09-20 |archive-date=2012-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222091231/http://homevideo.about.com/od/dvdsvideosa/fr/Imagine-That-DVD-a.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
| Line 137: | Line 142: | ||
{{Wikiquote}} |
{{Wikiquote}} |
||
* {{Official website|http://www.imaginethatmovie.com}} |
|||
* {{IMDb title|0780567|Imagine That}} |
* {{IMDb title|0780567|Imagine That}} |
||
* {{Mojo title|imaginethat|Imagine That}} |
* {{Mojo title|imaginethat|Imagine That}} |
||
| Line 146: | Line 150: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imagine That}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imagine That}} |
||
[[Category:2000s fantasy |
[[Category:2000s fantasy comedy films]] |
||
[[Category:American fantasy |
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]] |
||
[[Category:American children's comedy films]] |
[[Category:American children's comedy films]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:Films directed by Karey Kirkpatrick]] |
[[Category:Films directed by Karey Kirkpatrick]] |
||
[[Category:Films set in Colorado]] |
[[Category:Films set in Colorado]] |
||
| Line 163: | Line 166: | ||
[[Category:Films produced by Ed Solomon]] |
[[Category:Films produced by Ed Solomon]] |
||
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Chris Matheson (screenwriter)]] |
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Chris Matheson (screenwriter)]] |
||
[[Category:Films about father–daughter relationships]] |
|||
[[Category:2000s English-language films]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| Imagine That | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
| |
| Directed by | Karey Kirkpatrick |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | John Lindley |
| Edited by | David Moritz |
| Music by | Mark Mancina |
Production |
|
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Countries |
|
| Language | English |
| Budget | $55 million[1] |
| Box office | $23 million[1] |
Imagine That is a 2009 comedy film starring Eddie Murphy, directed by Karey Kirkpatrick, and written by Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson. It centers on the relationship between a workaholic father (Murphy) and his daughter, Olivia (Yara Shahidi), whose imaginary world becomes the secret to her father's success.
The film had its premiere at the Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios Lot in Los Angeles, California and was then widely released on June 12, 2009. Murphy was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor for his work in the film. The film was a co-production between Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. Despite receiving mixed reviews, the film was a box office bomb, grossing $25 million against a budget of $55 million.
Evan Danielson is a successful financial advisor, who had been working at the same securities firm for eight years as their top account manager, until Johnny Whitefeather was hired as his rival. Whitefeather seems to have the whole company under a spell as he spiels his nonsensical idioms filled with Native American mumbo jumbo. The top executives seem more content with chanting Indian-style noises than listening to how they can make money through sound investments.
When Evan discovers that his daughter, Olivia is able to tell the future within the financial world by using her "goo-gaa" comfort blanket and her imaginary friends (Queen Qwali and Princesses Kupida, Sopida and Mopida), he gains an invaluable upper hand at the office. During work, Olivia draws all over Evan's worksheets for a meeting. Outraged, Evan goes to the meeting and he shows off the paperwork and explains that ChemStar is sparkly, and Aerodyne and Yellowfin will get married, confusing his colleagues. Evan thinks he is about to be fired, but his boss informs him that all his predictions came through. The share price of ChemStar shot up, while Aerodyne and Yellowfin were preparing to merge.
After only a few days with Olivia, Evan rediscovers his inner child, and has fun playing imaginary games with her. Whitefeather becomes suspicious and begins to search for his secret. When he learns that Evan was just playing with a wakalyapi blanket, Whitefeather pays six thousand dollars for one, ordering his son to tell him the future and keeping him up all night by making him drink cans of Red Bull.
Whitefeather and Evan are now competing for the position of head of the Western division of the company D.D.E. In order to be prepared for the presentation, Evan again needs to invoke the use of the Goo-Gaa blanket and meet with the princesses. However, Olivia is spending the night at her friend's house, and there is no way for Evan to obtain the Goo-Gaa without taking it from her. Also, the presentations will be held at the time of Olivia's class play.
Evan gets Olivia to give him the Goo-Gaa, but she cries because he seems to care only about the blanket, not her. He returns home, tries to get the princesses' attention, then starts working on his presentation. As hours pass, Evan stretches, and the Goo-Gaa falls on the floor, but he continues working without noticing.
Evan goes to the presentation instead of Olivia's class concert. Johnny gives his presentation, but his idea is too crazy for Dante D'Enzo, the owner of the company. When Evan is about to present, he suddenly decides to go to Olivia's class concert, and leaves the presentation. As he drives over, Evan changes into a king costume. At the concert, Olivia is unable to sing her solo part. Evan appears dressed as a king, and she starts singing, delighted to see him.
After the class concert, Evan tells Olivia how sorry he is for misusing her blanket, seemingly not caring about her, and for using the princesses for the wrong reason. Evan and Olivia say good-bye to the princesses, as she says it is time to let them go. They both start waving and, although there is no wind, some leaves fly off into the sky.
D'Enzo offers the position to Evan because his resolve in leaving the presentation demonstrated to D'Enzo that he is not just a sycophant, and his presentation notes showed impressive ideas. Evan accepts.
Evan, Olivia's mother Trish, and Olivia leave happy.
The working title for the film was "Nowhereland".[2] Filming ran from 10 September to 14 December in 2007, at locations including Denver[3] and Los Angeles with Chicken Run screenwriter and Over the Hedge director Karey Kirkpatrick.
The score to Imagine That was composed by Mark Mancina, who recorded his score with an 83-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Sony Scoring Stage.[4]
The film soundtrack features several covers of Beatles songs, such as "Got to Get You into My Life", "Nowhere Man", and two different versions of "Here Comes the Sun", while the song "All You Need Is Love" plays a part in the film's plot.
On its opening weekend, the film ran sixth, grossing $5.5 million in 3,008 theaters with a $1,830 average.[5] The film went on to gross $22.3 million worldwide.[1] This opening was similar to Murphy's previous summer movie, Meet Dave, which also had a lackluster opening week. However, Meet Dave received worse reviews than Imagine That. Imagine That was released in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2009, and failed to reach the Top 15.[6]
About the movie's modest success, Murphy said: "The movie didn’t have a chance at the box office – it’s just me and this little girl and a blanket."[7] He said that he considers the movie one of the worst he has made, and said: "If I really want to cry, I'll put on 'Imagine That'."[8]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 41% based on 120 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Despite a promising turn by newcomer Yara Shahidi, Imagine That is another pedestrian family comedy that squanders Eddie Murphy's comedic talents."[9]OnMetacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 54 out of 100, based on reviews from 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[10] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade『A−』on scale of A to F.[11]
Joe LeydonofVariety called it "An undemandingly pleasant, mildly amusing fantasy."[12] Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The result is a much more playable film than recent efforts, though Murphy will have to share the applause with young Yara Shahidi."[13] Time Out's Trevor Johnston called the film "dreadfully flat" and gave it one out of five stars, chastising it for a lack of funny moments.[14] Brandy McDonnell of The Oklahoman praised the filmmakers' restraint in not visualizing Olivia's fantasy worlds, instead inviting the viewer to share in Evan's efforts to navigate his daughter's imagination. While she found the film becomes overly predictable in its later stretches, she concluded that the overall strong storyline, Murphy's unusually disciplined performance, and the strong acting by Shahidi and Church make it an engaging watch.[15] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called it "Amusing without ever being break-out funny."[16]
 |
This section is in a table format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose. Editing help is available. (January 2021)
|
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30th Golden Raspberry Awards[17] | Worst Actor | Eddie Murphy | Nominated |
| Worst Actor of the Decade | Won | ||
| 2010 Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress | Yara Shahidi | Nominated |
Imagine That was released on DVD and Blu-ray on October 13, 2009.[18]
|
| |
|---|---|
| Films directed |
|
| Films produced |
|
| Written only |
|
| Musicals |
|
| Related |
|
