IMAGINE THAT, PG (1 hr & 47 min)

where: CENTURY 14 VALLEJO in Vallejo, CA

when: Monday, June 15th, 2009

show: 4:25 pm

auditorium: 1

seat: 4th row, 7th column

This movie is about a divorced (separated?) dad, played by Eddie Murphy, who tries to balance his career with his fatherhood. But a rival at work and a possible promotion makes the workaholic dad, Evan Danielson, de-prioritize his fatherly duties. His neglected and insecure daughter, Olivia, played by Yara Shahidi, soon develops a friendship with imaginary beings to compensate for the lack of quality time with her dad.

On a fateful day of scheduling mix-up, Evan finds out that his daughter's imaginary friends seem to have a knack for predicting business take-overs and mergers, and stock valuations. Desperately in need of bettering his "mystical" Native American rival, Evan exploits Olivia's friendship with her invisible playmates. Soon, Evan becomes re-acquainted with his inner-child, to the betterment of his relationship with Olivia and his estranged wife, Trish.

What Evan does not know until the end is that all he needs to be both a successful business professional AND a loving father is to re-apply his childlike creativity as the occasion may arise.

noteworthy scene: A doting dad playing dress-up with his daughter.

audience reaction: Very good.

recommendation: Take your children to see this movie.

spoiler alert! None. Unlike the movie UP, it took no effort for me to suspend my disbelief as I watched this movie. But I do take up issue with the "understanding boss" played by Martin Sheen--show me a boss like that and I'll work for him!

fyi: The woman who plays the estrange wife character, Trish (Nicole Ari Parker), is HOT! Why Evan would want to be separated from her when she didn't come across as a "bitch" is beyond my reasoning ability.

word of advice: As a courtesy to others, turn-off your damn cellphone. Early in the show, a white old-fart "lady"'s cellphone RANG and she ANSWERED it! Maybe she was just trying to impress the rest of the audience with her techno-savvy or maybe it is just a "Vallejo local" thing. Either way, it is VERY RUDE AND VERY INCONSIDERATE!!!

tidbits: I should not eat popcorn if I plan on pigging-out at a Chinese buffet after a show!