(Enlarge) Eddie Murphy stars in the family comedy "Imagine That," now at area theaters.

Imagine an Eddie Murphy movie that's funny. Although "Imagine That" is more likely to induce sentimental smiles than big laughs, it does have manic moments that'll remind you of his funny movies back in, oh, the 1980s.

Unlike the earthy Eddie of that distant era, the Eddie Murphy characters of recent decades have been nice guys who don't have any naughty words in their vocabulary. The sweet-natured dad he plays in "Imagine That" earns him additional humanitarian points, but there frankly are times when you'll wish this well-tailored family man would cut loose like the Eddie Murphy of old.

On its own sappy terms, this latest nice guy role is mildly amusing. The dad-daughter emotional connection at the heart of the story is nicely acted by Murphy as the dad and the endearing Yara Shahidi as the 7-year-old daughter. The comfortable rapport between these two actors makes the movie succeed as a character study, even if its comic scenes are flatly formulaic.

This particular dad, Evan Danielson, is an investment banker in Denver who is so devoted to his job that maybe he would benefit from a little more quality time with his adorable daughter, Olivia.

The script diligently adheres to the Hollywood family comedy premise that clueless parents need to learn from their wise and frequently wisecracking children. Parents need to cast aside their bill-paying, discipline-enforcing, uptight ways and rediscover the playful and, yes, child-like behavior they've suppressed since they were children.

The obligatory contemporary demographic twist is that Evan is separated from his wife, Trish (Nicole Ari Parker), which admittedly contributes a bit of dramatic tension to a simplistic movie that needs all the complexity it can get.

Evan's worries about the latest business deals and his worries about the logistics of raising a daughter who shuttles from one household to another have wiped the smile off his face.

This splintered family situation also has taken a toll on Olivia, who finds comfort from a blanket that she refers to as her goo-gaa. Her teachers at school are worried, because Olivia doesn't pay attention in class. Instead, she is totally absorbed in the conversations she has with the storybook characters somehow inhabiting the blanket.

The plot itself takes an extremely forced supernatural turn when Olivia makes some storybook-induced drawings that turn out to contain coded financial tips that help Evan clinch major business deals. Evan's fortunes literally rise. Though understandably bewildered by this turn of events, he goes with the magical flow.

Even more puzzled is a competitive colleague, Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church), who uses his supposed American Indian heritage to make New Age-oriented sales presentations. Johnny Whitefeather is such an irritating character that his unfunny scenes make you all the happier that he's suddenly losing to Evan.

Also registering dismay at these financial events is the big boss, Dante D'Enzo (Martin Sheen), whose confused smile conveys satisfaction that the company's prospects are looking good.

Both family and business affairs flourish. Evan is more sensitive to Olivia's psychological needs, and Olivia gains the confidence to lead a young chorus in singing "All You Need Is Love" in a packed school auditorium. Not only do they have love, but they've also got a lot of money. Where can I buy a goo-gaa? Grade: C+

"Imagine That" (PG) is now playing at area theaters.

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