“I am not crazy! I just want my Goo-Gaa!”
- Evan Danielson

You know that this is going to be a another one of Eddie Murphy’s hilariously funny performances when it opens with Evan Danielson ( Eddie Murphy) demanding in the middle of the night, his “Goo-Gaa” as he is thrown out of a house onto the front lawn in his desperate attempt to recover what we have yet to discover wondering, “What is a Goo-Gaa?” A young voice in the background is heard saying, “once he was a king, then got lost in the land of nowhere – lost in the land of “Imagine”.

Olivia Danielson (Yara Shahidi)

“Imagine That” is Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ family comedy and heartwarming tale of the struggles of Evan Danielson ( Eddie Murphy) a success driven, competitive, financial wizard attempting to rise to the top of a Denver financial firm while also trying to understand the under- the- blanket “Goo-Gaa” mumbling of his seven-year-old daughter Olivia ( Yara Shahidi) that communicates secretly with the princesses and their queen. Evan and Olivia find a connect when he enters her world of imagination and Olivia sees for the first time Evans attempt to finally understand her in a touching and hilariously funny sequence of events.

Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church, center)has a convincing knowledge of Native American incantations during a business meeting

Olivia has all but given up on Daddy who is too preoccupied with predicting stock investments and holding onto portfolios of clients that he seems to be loosing to his competition at the office, namely Johnny Whitefeather ( Thomas Haden Church) who is quiet good at winning over Evens clients with his song and dance office presentations that are funny in themselves.

Businessman Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy, left) and his main rival at work, Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church, right)

Evan has all but lost control until something unusually compelling is presented by Olivia that changes the direction of their relationship and gains the attention of his boss.

Businessman Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy, right) and his daughter Olivia (Yara Shahidi, right) with her magical goo-gaa

The “Goo-Gaa” has taken over Olivia’s attention at school and caused concern of her teacher who now feels her needs are not being met.  Even is forced to leave a business meeting after getting a call from Olivia’s teacher. He tries in vain to take the “Goo-Gaa” from Olivia and after she lets out a blood curdling scream, Daddy takes Olivia home.

Olivia doesn’t give up on her daddy and continues to rally for his attention but is sent to her room when her whispering under the goo-gaa distracts him during his telephone conversation, strategizing how to outperform Johnny Thunder in the morning meeting with an important client.

Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church, left) is businessman Evan Danielson's (Eddie Murphy, right) chief rival for a dream job promotion

That morning Olivia has taken his notes and not only drawn pictures on them but cut holes and placed sparkle glue on them.

Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy) displays creative suggestions drawn by Olivia (Yara Shahidi) his daughter during a business meeting

Olivia Danielson (Yara Shahidi, left) has a rather unique take on the breakfast pancakes she's preparing for her father Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy, right)

“Soppida’s Dragon! Please let me pass!”
-Evan

Olivia shows Even how to communicate under the Goo-Gaa and meet with the princesses for advice on which stocks to pick, a process that involves a specific ritual of rubbing the Goo-Gaa on his face, covering his head with the Goo-Gaa, spinning and taking a walk into the forest (the kitchen), singing a song to Sopadas the dragon, going to the beach (the den) in order to finally see Kupada and Mopa at Evan’s desk for the latest stock advice.

This proves to not only be financially rewarding but entering into Olivia’s world and Olivia into her Daddy’s world has brought them finally brought them together.

“Hi Moppida and Koopida.
I’m Mr. Danielson. I’m Olivia’s Dad”
– Evan

Evan has learned the importance of building a strong relationship with Olivia which is challenged when he must choose between his lifelong dream of advancing within the company by competing against his rival Johnnie Thunder in a promotional presentation and missing Olivia’s school sing. The owner of the company, Dante D’Enzo ( Martin Sheen) wants to see how each of them will analyze a portfolio for its best financial return.

Olivia Danielson (Yara Shahidi,center) performing at a school recital and hoping her father will leave work long enough to attend.

Even searches his options during Johnnie Thunder’s presentation, deciding to leave the meeting for what proves to be the most important meeting of his life and in the life of his little girl who can’t seem to let out the words until she spots Daddy enter the school auditorium. It’s a moment that is very touching and really makes you leave the movie with that special feeling that you get after seeing a really great movie that you always mention when talking to friends and family about that great movie you just saw.

Olivia (Yara Shahidi) performs at school performance after seeing her daddy, Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy) arrival dressed as a king.

Evan is reunited in another special moment with his wife Trish ( Nicole Ari Parker) who is a smart, sexy, classy, sophisticated and warm mother concerned for Olivia and the possibility of bringing father and daughter together. They are divorced in the movie but appear to have been brought together for another try in the end.

Trish (Nicole Ari Parker) shares custody of her daughter, Olivia (Yara Shahidi, right), with her work obsessed ex-husband.

”You know, how you feel when you’ve had a good time and had some laughs.  I don’t want to send you away with a message, just a good feeling. Those are the kinds of movies I make. Good-time movies” says Eddie Murphy.

“And Qwali. Thank you for, well, for letting me into your land.
Because, honestly, it’s very beautiful and fantastic.”
– Evan

Where does the inspiration for creating great films as “Imagine That” begin. Not different from other great films Imagine That originated in the mind of Ed Solomon, a writer and producer as he took his six-year-old son Even to school. After a heated telephone call during their ride to school his son said, “Why don’t you just kick him out?’ After a series of events with this colleague Soloman had the idea: What if a guy had a son who had better business sense than he did? He adjusted it to create a fresh and different look at a particular family dynamic according to Soloman. The inspiration for the Goo-Gaa came from his daughter that has a purple blanket.

Soloman has been friends with Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura for years and when presenting the idea to him, there was an immediate connection. Another friend and writer, Chris Matheson helped him write the screenplay and the search for the perfect actors to bring this masterpiece to life began.

Director Karey Dirkpatrick (right) shares time with Olivia (Yara Shahidi) on set

Who else but Eddie Murphy, Oscar-nominated star of “ Dreamgirls” and wildly successful “ Shrek” and “ Dr. Doolittle” with his flawless sense of comedy and proven track record in family comedy could have done such a performance and was perfect in presenting the task of juggling career with developing a connection with Olivia.

Their search for a director lead them to first time at the helm of a live-action film, Karey Kirkpatrick who had experience in creating family-friendly films such as “ Chicken Run,”  “ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and “ Over the Hedge.”

Continuing their search they sought out Oscar-nominated actor Thomas Haden Church to portray Evans rival. Finding the child actor was a little more difficult. More than 3,000 young hopefuls tried their luck at an open call in Los Angeles, Miami, Texas, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., the five finalists testing opposite Murphy.

L.A.’s own Yara Shahidi ultimately won the heart of Murphy who said,” I first red with her and the other girls. All of them were adorable, but Yara was the most special. Something just clicked between us.”

They concluded their search with selection of Nicole Ari Parker, Ronnie Cox, and DeRay Davis and, in a special appearance, Martin Sheen.

Director Karey Kirkpatric (left) and Eddie Murphy (right who plays Evan Danielson on the set of the family comedy "Imagine That"

This hilariously funny movie opens June 12th and is one of the summer’s best films that will appeal to the whole family.

From time to time Splash Magazines receives complimentary products and services from companies. The receipt of these gifts in no way affects our reviews or opinions in our editorial coverage. Our loyalty is to you, our readers, and we will give you our honest, unbiased opinions.

Copyright © 2003 - 2010 Splash Magazines Worldwide. All rights reserved.

Top of Page