Salt Lake Tribune Review
At least this
Eddie Murphy family vehicle isnt as bad as Meet Dave but the same could be said of elective dental surgery. Murphy plays hot-shot broker Evan Danielson, who is terrible at bonding with his 6-year-old daughter, Olivia (newcomer
Yara Shahidi), but then tries to take advantage when the musings of Olivias imaginary friends turn out to be savvy financial advice. Director
Karey Kirkpatrick (making his live-action debut after helming the animated Over the Hedge) has a strong visual sense, with all burnished wood grain and computer screens in Evans apartment and office, and he draws Murphy out of his self-involved shell for some charming moments with Shahidi. Alas, the plot, in which Murphys Evan finds his inner child as he battles a rival broker (
Thomas Haden Church) with an American Indian shtick, is a paint-by-numbers storyline that chugs to a phoned-in conclusion.
-- Sean P. Means
The rundown: A stockbroker (
Eddie Murphy) finds money advice when his daughter (
Yara Shahidi) talks to her imaginary friends in this by-the-numbers family comedy. 107 minutes. (SPM)
Synopsis: A powerful financial executive whose career was sent spiraling down the drain due to sudden lack of confidence finds the answers to his inexplicable setback in an imaginary world dreamt up by his young daughter in a fantasy comedy starring
Eddie Murphy and co-scripted by
Ed Solomon and
Chris Matheson (the writing duo behind Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey).~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
