Who Plays Who?

Eddie Murphy Yara Shahidi Nicole Ari Parker Thomas Haden Church Heidi Marnhout Daniel Polo DeRay Davis Vanessa Williams Blake Hightower Talen Riley Ronny Cox Stephen Rannazzisi Martin Sheen Lauren Weedman Timm Sharp Stephen Root Richard Schiff Marin Hinkle

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Evan Olivia Tricia Johnny Whitefeather Cheryl Whitefeather Indigo Whitefeather John Strother Lori Strother Will Strother Ella Strother Tom Stevens Noah Kulick Dante D'Enzo Rose Tod Fred Franklin Carl Simons Ms Davis

What Do The Critics Say

"Kids love to see adults acting silly. It's like the best special effect ever. And Murphy dances, grimaces, slides, and pratfalls with manic abandon. As long as Murphy is being silly, kids laugh. Their affinity for an adult willing to play with them is palpable. At the end, even the movie critic got a bit teary. Imagine that!" Lisa Ann Cockrel CHRISTIANITY TODAY "In spite of the slow beginning, the sugary ending and Thomas Haden church, this one isn’t bad. It proves if you stick the right cute charismatic kid in a worn Disneyesque plot, twist it correctly and add [Eddie] Murphy in charm mode passé can be palatable." Gary Wolcott TRI-CITY HERALD "Imagine That this innocuous family comedy could very well bring a smile to a little girl's face, especially if she sees it with her daddy." Kit Bowen THE MOVIE KIT "It's the gentle, believable father-daughter chemistry between Murphy and Shahidi that emerges as the film's most impressive effect; it's enough." Kevin Williamson JAM! MOVIES "Here's a summer movie that kids will laugh at and parents can take them to without worrying about sex, violence, language or projectile vomiting jokes." Linda Barnard TORONTO STAR "When was the last time you saw an Eddie Murphy comedy where he was upstaged by anybody? In Imagine That, there are actually a couple of characters who steal nearly every scene from him. One is the adorable Yara Shahidi, who plays his young daughter; the other, Thomas Haden Church, who appears in red face, as his conniving, Native-American colleague. Worthwhile, as long as you're willing to watch Eddie Murphy play the straight man." Kam Williams NEWSBLAZE

"Eddie Murphy, in his hyperactive comedic guise, is in fine fettle in this family-friendly comedy, although he is largely upstaged by his enchanting 7 year old co-star Yara Shahidi, who steals scenes as quickly as Murphy talks. Shahidi is not the only one who upstages Murphy. Thomas Haden Church delivers a hilarious turn as the American Indian worshiper Johnny Whitefeather ('Sometimes the best spear is the one you don't throw') with unconventional work practises." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "Murphy goes through the motions and no-one will be surprised at the outcome, but the journey is what matters in these movies and Imagine That makes it bearable for anyone over the age of 10." James White SFX MAGAZINE "If there were any doubts that Murphy can still be as boldly funny and charismatic in the flesh as he has been when providing the voice of Donkey in the Shrek franchise, Imagine That helps allay them." Tom Keogh SEATTLE TIMES "Murphy rises to every occasion, not only with the crisp wit that has long been his hallmark, but with restraint and tenderness that serve him well." Joe Morgenstern WALL STREET JOURNAL "Imagine this... an Eddie Murphy comedy that is neither offensive nor offensively bad. Well, after the horrendous misfire of Meet Dave, Imagine That is a sweet surprise of a film that goes some way to restoring Murphy’s reputation. Genuinely sweet and endearing Murphy film, at last." Chris Hewitt EMPIRE MAGAZINE UK "An uncharacteristically restrained performance by Eddie Murphy, a sharply funny supporting role filled by Thomas Haden Church, and a beguiling new child actor, Yara Shahidi, make this fantasy-comedy about the power of imagination agreeable enough. Several Beatles songs are utilised in a movie that's funny without being too sugary, and performances all round (including Ronny Cox as Evan's manager) are on the money." Des Partridge BRISBANE COURIER MAIL

The Inside Story Evan Danielson’s life, like that of so many parents today, can sometimes be all work and no play. He listens to his daughter without hearing her, is absent even when he’s present. Without meaning to, he is neglecting his parental responsibilities as he chases career advancement. Never in his wildest dreams would it dawn on him that the secret to his success might spring from the imagination of his young daughter, Olivia. This is the world which is conjured up in the inventive new family comedy from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, "Imagine That". Ed Solomon, a busy writer and producer, was taking his six year old son Evan to school. In true 'out of the mouth o babes fashion', Evan said something it took weeks for Solomon ("Men in Black" & "Charlie's Angels") to truly hear, but when he finally did, it proved to be the inspiration for "Imagine That". "While driving with my son," Solomon recalls, "I had to do something I usually don’t do: make a phone call while he was in the car with me. Afterwards, I apologized and explained that I was in the middle of a business crisis that required immediate attention. The person on the other end was not being pleasant, and asking for things that were unfair. Evan simply said, 'Why don’t you just kick him out?' I went on to explain in detail how that wasn’t an option and why. I thought it was cute that he had such a straightforward, but clearly uninformed, answer. Three weeks later, with still no resolution to this problem, we actually had to fire the person. A few days later, he returned and apologized for being unfair and we proceeded to finish our work together. It turned out my son was exactly right. That’s when I had the idea: What if a guy had a son who had better business sense than he did?" As Solomon developed the idea, he adjusted it to create a fresh and different look at a particular family dynamic. "The father-son relationship immediately bored me because, first of all, it seemed really pedestrian and, secondly, there are so many movies about fathers and sons. But then I thought about my daughter, who is a formidable presence and whose powerful feminine spirit is sometimes a bit intimidating for me. I remembered her vibrant imaginary world and realized that a father-daughter story would show the story from a unique perspective and that if the source of her business insight was the characters from within her imaginary world, the entire film would be much more magical and, hopefully, more special." Enter the 'Goo-Gaa'. "My daughter has a purple blanket," the 2003 Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival Award winner Solomon ("Levity") said. The security comforter was the inspiration for the Goo-Gaa that belongs to the main character’s daughter Olivia and is the wellspring for her imaginary world. "I thought the comedic hook could be that only Olivia has access to these imaginary characters and only through this blanket. Now I had a story about a guy who resents the heck out of the fact that his daughter carries around a security blanket everywhere she goes and he does everything he can to separate her from it. When he finds out that it may actually have magic powers that will help him succeed in his career, his attitude suddenly changes." Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Solomon have been friends for years. When the idea for the story came up during a vacation, there was an immediate connection. Both men have young children and had been looking to work together on a project for a long time. "Imagine That" seemed to be the right project at the right time. "Ed and I were on a family whitewater rafting trip together," di Bonaventura ("Shooter") recalls. Several months later, Solomon turned to another friend and fellow writer, Chris Matheson, to help him write the screenplay. Matheson previously co-wrote the hit comedies "Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure" and "Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey" with Solomon. "Chris and I were working on an animated project for the internet and had been looking for a new film to write together. After I sold Lorenzo on the idea, I suggested we bring Chris in to write it with me." With a solid script in hand, the journey of "Imagine That" continued to move toward the screen as di Bonaventura next sought out a director for the project, as well as the ideal actor to play Evan." The emotional core of "Imagine That" was the relationship between Evan and his daughter, Olivia, and the Goo-Gaa fantasy that ultimately brings them together. The role of Evan would require a balance of playing an ordinary parent who suddenly finds himself in extraordinary and comical circumstances. The actor would need to be someone with a flawless sense of comedy and a proven track record in family comedy, as well as his own magical ability to concoct original and memorable characters. Sounds like a job for Eddie Murphy. "After the second draft was finished, we contacted Eddie and sent him the script," di Bonaventura. "Eddie was exactly the character we imagined. His ability to convey a range of emotions was crucial and, of course, his comedic versatility is without peer." Both di Bonaventura and Solomon quickly discovered that the Oscar ® nominated star of "Dreamgirls" and the wildly successful "Shrek" and "Dr Dolittle" franchises took an immediate liking to the script. "I responded to the story of "Imagine That" emotionally," says Murphy ("Norbit" & "Meet Dave"). "I found it to be a sweet emotional piece, and it also offered the opportunity to find some funny moments." Solomon ("Super Mario Bros") was impressed with Murphy’s instincts and his unique approach to the role of Evan Danielson. "Eddie knows how to be truthful and play the tiniest of moments with genuine poignancy. Yet he never gets maudlin or sappy. Then, when the story calls for broadness and comic desperation, Eddie is never afraid to go all out without ever going over the top. At every stage, he is perfectly modulated. There’s only one word for him, awesome." With Murphy anchoring "Imagine That", the producers began their search for a director who could bring to the project the right balance of humor, sensitivity and emotional honesty. Although this would be his first time at the helm of a live-action film, Karey Kirkpatrick was the clear-cut choice. As a writer, Kirkpatrick had created family-friendly fare that displayed heart and humor, including "Chicken Run", "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" and the wildly popular "Over the Hedge". "From the first meeting with Karey, he fundamentally understood the movie we were trying to make," says di Bonaventura ("G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"). "But what really sold us was that in each subsequent meeting he brought in new ideas and was able to shape them in a collaborative way. His background was pitch-perfect for reaching the widest possible audience we felt this movie could appeal to." Moving forward with its ensemble cast, the filmmakers sought out Oscar ® nominated actor Thomas Haden Church ("Sideways") to portray Evan’s archrival, Johnny Whitefeather. The recent Emmy Award winner for Walter Hill’s "Broken Trail" is blessed with a signature voice and sense of humor that would add considerable dimension to his role of the 'not quite who he seems' Whitefeather. Church had already worked with Kirkpatrick previously on "Over the Hedge" and "Charlotte’s Web". "The only way you’re going to establish the necessary trust bond with a director, especially with a first-time director, is to be confident they know what they’re doing," Church ("Spanglish" & "Smart People") explained. "And I came into the movie certain of this, having worked with Karey on two other pictures. Even though those films were animated features, he knows how to make adjustments in the moment. He’s very precise in directing performance." Finding a child actor to fill a pivotal role in a film is always a challenge, and casting the ideal Olivia proved to be no exception. The part demanded a youngster with personality and natural innocence who also had stamina, since she is in more than half the film’s scenes. Add to that the pressure of being confident enough to share those scenes with a super talent like Murphy. The tough assignment of finding that spot-on young actress fell to casting director Jeanne McCarthy ("Friends with Money", "The Break-Up", "Daddy Day Care" & "Dr Dolittle 2"), who instituted a national search. More than three thousand young hopefuls were either submitted through agencies or tried their luck at an open call in Los Angeles. Casting sessions were also held through agencies in Miami, Texas, New York, Chicago and Washington DC. After culling through hundreds of candidates, the search was narrowed to five hopefuls, who came to Los Angeles for screen tests and meetings. The top three finalists were tested opposite Murphy. Los Angeles own Yara Shahidi clicked with Murphy, winning the hearts of the star and the filmmakers. "Imagine That" marks her feature film debut. "I first read with her and the other girls," three time Kids' Choice Awards USA winner Murphy recalls. "All of them were adorable, but Yara was the most special. Something just clicked between us." "The screen absolutely lights up when she’s on,"di Bonaventura adds. "Her chemistry with Eddie was immediate and her ability to take direction astounded us." And what were Shahidi's thoughts on her first meeting with Murphy? "Mr Eddie is super funny in person," Shahidi giggles. "It was great working with him! He is really, really nice: and smart!" Nicole Ari Parker ("Remember the Titans") was cast as Evan’s wife, Trish. "I was so excited. With Trish, the writers took the trouble to really develop her character. They gave her a real personality and let us see the situation from her perspective as well." Veteran performer Ronny Cox was cast as Evan's boss, Mr Stevens. Cox, who has over a hundred films to his credit, reunites with Murphy. The two had previously worked together on "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Beverly Hills Cop II", in which Cox played Lieutenant Bogomil. Cox knew the challenges ahead could only enhance the final film. "I knew the problem they were going to have with this films. It was that it would be so funny it would be hard to settle on which take to use. If they ever put together a reel where they just show all the stuff that’s not in the film, it could be a hit film in itself." Martin Sheen joined the cast for a small, but pivotal, role as financial guru extraordinaire: Dante D’Enzo. "I play this financial tycoon who is kind of a legendary financier, and these lads are vying for an opportunity to be a part of his company. They’re both kind of presenting an audition piece, if you will, and their ideas about what they might do for our company." Kirkpatrick and Sheen had several conversations about the character and the names of rich, big business titans were bantered about. Kirkpatrick preferred to think of D’Enzo as more Warren Buffet than Donald Trump, and Sheen agreed, noting: "If Warren Buffet is listening and watching, I hope we did you justice." Synopsis

Before he found himself standing in front of his friends’ house yelling for his daughter’s purple security blanket in the middle of the night, Evan Danielson was just your average financial wizard: focused, successful and driven. But when his daughter introduced him to the princesses and their queen living in her imaginary world, Evan followed her on a hilarious adventure that forced him to reexamine the value of their relationship and redefine his meaning of success. Evan and his seven year old daughter Olivia have found it impossible to connect. He’s too distracted by his career demands to understand the value of quality father-daughter time and she has all but given up on her Daddy. When the promotion of a lifetime is suddenly within his reach, Evan finds himself torn between his parental responsibilities and staving off his company rival, the annoyingly pseudo-mystical Johnny Whitefeather.

The Verdict "Surprisingly, "Image That" ain't half bad, thanks to a restrained performance from three time People's Choice Awards (USA) winner Eddie Murphy; an outstanding debut performance from his delightful young co-star, Yara Shahidi and, 2005 Independent Spirit Award winner Thomas Haden Church ("Sideways") who plays Johnny Whitefeather. Rated G, there are other surprises within "Imagine That", which will appeal to parents. For a start there is no bad language; no farting; no dogs humping any of the characters legs, no substance abuse and no outrageous poop jokes. This really is a kid's friendly film with a feel-good ending every audience member will be hoping for. Karey Kirkpatrick makes his feature film directorial debut. Better known for his screenplays, such as: "Over the Hedge", "Charlotte's Web" and "The Spiderwick Chronicles", his previous directing experience was limited to the highly entertaining, animated feature: "Over the Hedge". After seeing "Imagine That", most will agree, you'd never guess it! I have to admit, that yes, I am a huge fan of Eddie Murphy. So when it came to "Imagine That", it took a little getting used to a somewhat 'reimaged' and 'restrained', Murphy. True, there are some signature facial expressions, but there's a lack of superfluous carry-on from the Oscar ® nominee, which should sit well with parents who are taking their kids to a screening. Well worth having a look at. Recommended. 3 1/2 STARS." The Production Team

Director Written by Producers Original Music Cinematography Film Editor Casting Production Designer Art Direction Set Decoration Costume Design

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Karey Kirkpatrick Ed Solomon & Chris Matheson Lorenzo di Bonaventura & Ed Solomon Mark Mancina John Lindley David Moritz Jeanne McCarthy William Arnold Sue Chan David Smith Ruth E Carter

Run Time 107 minutes Rated G [AUST] Copyright ©2009 - Paramount Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2009 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.