You guys are cynical jerks! :)

Seriously though, this movie has some problems - but it's definitely not intended for adults, it feels like the kind of family story for kids slightly too old to be interested in only animated features to wile away a rainy afternoon or sick day at home. I DEFINITELY saw far worse films in 2009.

I know that 11 year old me would have thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Eddie Murphy is in Dr Doolittle mode which probably delighted his own kids and family, Thomas Haden Church is a classic baddie as "Johnnie Whitefeather" (and it's satisfying to have him called out for pretending to be Native American later in the story) and Very Young - Yara Shahidi is FREAKING ADORABLE as the little girl with the magic blankie. The story is simple - very reminiscent of family movies from the 1980s - a corporate dad learning how to be a better parent. I mean, if it ain't broke...

I gotta know what the Razzie nominators were smoking that year to single THIS little family film out - out of the thousands of terrible films that year - for a public flogging. You. Cynical. Jerks.

It's on Netflix at the moment and the 8 and 13 year old girls I babysat last night were completely quiet and happy for nearly 2 hours. It was also an excellent introduction for these kids to both Eddie Murphy (we'll definitely be watching Beverly Hills Cop in the future - and the Beatles. (Nice soundtrack btw).