On June 12, 2009 Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies releases "Imagine That," a comedy film for
the family. The movie stars Eddie Murphy and eight year-old actress Yara Shahidi (as father and daughter), and centers around
their developing relationship. Evan Danielson (Murphy) whose life is centered around deadlines, obtaining new clients, pleasing
the clients you have and his computer gadgets is forced to deal with his daughter Olivia Danielson's fixation with her blanket.
Estranged wife (Trish) played by Nicole Ari Parker, refuses to come to his rescue when Olivia's blanket fixation has the school
calling him every five minutes.
"Imagine That" is so cute because of the outstanding acting from
Yara Shahidi and it is so funny thanks to the comedic timing, funny faces and voices that only Eddie Murphy can bring. "Imagine
That" will also have the audience rethinking the times that they didn't indulge in a child's "imaginary" world,
thinking that maybe, as in "Imagine That," it will bring them that hidden motivation to do the extraordinary.
"I been wanting to write a movie my kids and I can go to, together," film screenwriter/co-producer
Ed Solomon said. "This idea came from a personal moment."
"I want people to go out and have
a nice afternoon where they can bring the whole family, have a good laugh and get that fussy feeling," Eddie Murphy said
to me about what he wants us to get from the film.
Directed by Karey Kirkpatrick and also produced by Lorenzo
di Bonaventura, "Imagine That" also stars Thomas Naden Church as Johnny Whitefeather, Evan Danielson's rival co-worker;
Ronnie Cox as Evan's boss; Vannesa Williams as Lori Strother, wife of Evan's best friend Johns Strother played by DeRay Davis,
and Charlie Koznick as Rick, current boyfriend to Trish Danielson.
"We were talking," Thomas Church
laughs about when he was shooting the breeze with Eddie Murphy on set. "and he said, 'I auditioned once for about 5 minutes.'
I realized then what a big 'god' he was in the industry!"
Eddie Murphy was the glue that got everyone
together for this film. Even the director, Karey Kirkpatrick, said Eddie picked "him" to direct the film.
"Eddie
don't need a whole lot of directing," Karey laughs. "I got a call from Eddie two weeks before we wrapped up, he
wanted to see the film clips. I said, 'Uh oh.'"
Not to fear, Eddie liked what he saw from Kirkpatrick
and you will too. You too will travel into the "imaginary" world of Olivia Danielson.
"My
mom is an actress," Yara tells me about how she got into acting. "We are all doing something either behind the camera
or in front"
On challenges to this movie Shahidi said, "I had to learn how to skate and sing (The Beatles)."
"People put labels on music. But good music is good music," Press Play group member Paige Adkins said
about their music which has been labeled Rock/Pop/R&B. "I use to wish I was a Rock star. I have my own stuff before
the group, it's R&B. Being in Press Play taps into the Rock artist in me."
