OK for kids 6+
Sugary sweet father-daughter comedy is fine for families.
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.
- 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'sfantasy world important because it helped Evan get ahead or because ithelped them bond?
- Families can also discuss the movie's Native Americanjokes/references. Are they funny? Is humor based on stereotypes OK?
The good stuff
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Messages: Putting your family first is really the plot of this film.
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Role models: Evan, a workaholic dad, finally bonds with his daughter and decides tomake her the top priority in his life. On the other hand, for most ofthe movie, he uses her special blanket's magical skills to further hiscareer, even resorting to stealing security blankets to attempt to makehis own connection with the princesses.Native American culture is referenced, in many cases for a laugh. Thecharacter who acts like a Native American is exposed to be a fraud.
What to watch for
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Violence and scariness: Several comic pratfalls.
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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.
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Language: Mild insults like "stupid," "poop," and exclamations like "loads of crap," "cut the crap," "oh my God," "shut up," and "what the hell."
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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.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
Fan Reviews provided by
4
IMAGINE THAT - surprisingly CHARMING and SWEET! Rating: 80 out of 100. (Per advance press preview) by MOVIES REVIEWER
June 11 - I just previewed this cute and funny movie at a advance press screening. And it charmed me off my feet!
I enjoyed the metaphor-laden plot - and the family-friendly humor. And the audience did as well - we were all laughing and enjoying ourselves silly at Eddie Murphy's on-screen funny antics. And I had no idea that Thomas Haden Church could do comedy until now - I was pleasantly surprised - he was funny! This is a FUN and SWEET movie.
Themes: parental responsibility/fatherhood, power of imagination, getting in touch with your inner child, belief in yourself, conflict/cooperation/rivalry, priorities, etc.
I want myself a Googa/Gunga/Guga blanket too!!! (the cheap version and not the $6000 plus Red Bull version!)
VERDICT:
Great family-oriented entertainment!
Will appeal to both kids and parents/adults.
Go see it!
ACTUAL GRADE: B
5
FULL OF HEART movie! by sensationaljewelry
For those of us adults who still have the 'CHILD' in us with a sense of 'ADVENTURE AND FANTASY" this is a FUN and HEART warming cute story!
For children - its great as well!
I think its a FANTASTIC family, heartwarming and endearing story of a businessman whos always been 'too busy' for his family.. and soon finds out how 'IMPORTANT' his daughter is to him and REALLY gets to finally know her after he and his wife split
I have NO idea why some people don't like it.. that is UNLESS its because they prefer stupid comedy, violence, sex and nudity etc!
I thought all the characters were fantastic!
I think some people oughta stay home if they aren't into 'heartwarming' stories!
I think some people are just PLAIN HARD TO PLEASE!
( ;
5
Imagine That by opi
This was the best movie I've seen in a while.
Wish there were more like it.
No language, sex or nudity.
You don't have to have the language,etc. for a good movie.
Would pay to see this movie again.
GOOD JOB
4
Worth the trip by kk1970
Althought "Imagine That" won't be winning any Oscars, I found it more entertaining than most children's movies. The acting was excellent. The story line is a good reminder to parents about putting work aside and tuning in to your kids more often. I would not recommend this for children younger than 9 or so, simply because the story line may be difficult for them to follow. Eddie Murphy plays an investment broker who is competing with another broker throughout the movie. The story line about Murphy's job may be too advanced for younger kids to follow. My girls are 10 and 8, and they understood the movie, but I can see where many kids wouldn't get it. Overall a good film.
5
What a relief!!! by GOTTAKNOWBEFOREIGO
After seeing UP (which is anything but) Imagine That was uplifting, funny and pleasingly predictable! This movie is was a great reminder to all of us overworked preoccupied parents to take the time to play and listen to our kids. Great fantasy movie especially if you are ready for something light.
5
Awesome flick! by earthwindfirefunk
If you focus on the importance of Fatherhood., it's a whole different experience! Great movie for Father's Day! Go see it!
5
awesome movie! by urrutiasomos
I just loved this movie. It had many lol moments but wasnt stupid. It had a wonderful message and was a really creative idea. I would reccomend this movie for all ages. It was great! Eddie Murphy is just as funny as ever.
4
Nice Family Fair by chetwhye
Nice little movie. Entertaining. It's a kids' movie. If you're expecting Shakespeare, you should know dilussional people shouldn't write reviews.
4
Imagine That by Captain_Bob
This movie was funny, had positive messages, and was absolutely appropriate for children. The very last part of the ending was a bit hokey, but the rest of the movie right up to the final couple of lines was full of amusing and believable moments. Eddie Murphy was his usual amazing self as a polished character actor. The young actress who played his daughter was phenomenol! We'll no doubt see her on the big screen again in the not too distant future.
3
Could of been alot better by moviemom326
I took my 9 year old daughter to see this movie today. She liked it alot more than I did. The first hour dragged on and on. The story at first didn't make any sense at all. It was Eddie Murphy's character going back and forth to work and ignoring his cute daughter.This went on for the first hour of the movie til finally it started to pick up when they were in a Chucky Cheese type of place and it got alot funnier.The movie got alot more interesting when they finally decided to move the plot along when Eddie Murphy's character did more than just go to work and back. This movie started out slow and despite a scene where another character was abusing his 9 year old son by making him get out of bed in the middle of the night to dance around with a blanket dangerously close to open flames and forcefully make hime drink cans of Red Bull which I think has a very lethal dose of caffeine and is not for children, the movie did have a good ending. but the story could of been better and funnier.