Imagine That

This is in my opinion the surprise comedy of the summer so far.  Not because of the writing, I think 'The Proposal" was better, but rather the content is so pertinent in today's busy society.  With fathers worried about careers, the country suffering a confidence meltdown, we need fathers to keep strong, and represent stability in their families and pay attention to the next generation as responsible parents.  The perennial question facing so many families is the time commitment to children and their tutelage.  How far with you go in pursuit of a career at the possible loss and emotional abandonment to your children ? In the final quest how do you balance the needs of both?

Yara Shahidi plays Olivia, Evan Danielson's ( Eddie Murphy) young daughter. With divorced parents, she retreats under a small blanket called  Googa to communicate and talk with her imaginary friends that princesses and royalty from her private world.  

 Evan is a financial executive that starts to have a confidence meltdown when a rival for a future job, Johnny Whitefeather ( Thomas Haden Church ) starts to steal customers and is swaying the boss with his unorthodox methods. Even discovers that  that for some reason, his daughter's  imaginary friends  can give him sage financial advice and predict stock market events with uncanny certainty and almost insider knowledge.  They don't like Evan either.  

So behind all the comedy there is this serious dilemma for Evan and the movie will ultimately focus on this and how he reacts to all the pressure.  

This simple lesson in life delivered by a master comedian and his new protege is a must see for any father.