Imagine That

Is it perhaps time to admit that Eddie Murphy isn’t as good as he once appeared to be? For the last 10 years, Murphy—with the exception of Dreamgirls—has been appearing in junky films in a misguided attempt to be more of a “family man” at the movies. Here he plays a character whose daughter believes in an imaginary world where she gets sage financial advice from princesses and dragons. The advice turns out to be prophetic, and he uses it to get ahead at work. It all adds up to something decidedly unfunny that no kid is going to like. Murphy does his usual eyes bugging out, speaking rapidly routine, and nothing he does here is even remotely funny. I’ve been saying the guy needs career rehab for years now, but it seems clear that he just doesn’t care about the movies he makes anymore. It’s a sad thing to witness.