Adults have four-letter words and so do 6-year-olds.

A funny favorite is "poop" and an automatic laugh-getter in "Imagine That," a family comedy that could use more laughs despite an adorable child star and Eddie Murphy as a businessman belatedly trying to be a diligent daddy.

Murphy is Evan Danielson, a successful financial manager who is separated from his wife and taking care of their 6-year-old daughter, Olivia (Yara Shahidi), for a few days.

The girl freaks out whenever she's separated from her "Goo-Gaa," a purple, satin-edged blanket that grants her passage to a make-believe world of princesses and a queen and a landscape populated by a dragon, cave, forest and mountain.

---

'Imagine That'

2 stars = Mediocre
Ratings explained

• Starring: Eddie Murphy, Yara Shahidi, Thomas Haden Church
• Rating: PG for some mild language and brief questionable behavior
• Web site: http://www.imaginethatmovie.com/

---

It turns out her Goo-Gaa isn't just a security blanket but a securities blanket that seems to give Olivia investing advice that Evan can translate and pass along to clients. But, first, he must join in the silliness and fun by dancing, singing, pretending his Denver loft is a magical forest and talking to the imaginary Moppida, Koopida and Qwali.

When Evan sees the Goo-Gaa as his ticket to elbowing aside an obnoxious colleague, Johnny Whitefeather (Thomas Haden Church), he becomes more obsessed with the fabric square than his daughter.

"Imagine That" is the latest in a long line of family movies that remind parents what they know: Despite evidence to the contrary, their kids do listen; a vivid imagination is a blessing, not a curse; it never hurts for adults to play with their children and their food; and success is measured by family, not finances, and you'll be darn lucky if you have a boss who knows that, too.

Directed by Karey Kirkpatrick (a co-director of "Over the Hedge") and written by Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson, "Imagine That" is less entertaining and accomplished than the kid-friendly "Up" and "Night at the Museum."

It's a slow starter that had a preview audience squirming at times and shines mainly in scenes featuring Murphy and young Shahidi or, in a cameo at an indoor playground, Bobb'e J. Thompson from "Role Models." Will children understand the American Indian mumbo-jumbo or a line about workplace sycophants?

It is refreshing to see a movie about a father-daughter relationship, but I imagine "Imagine That" will play just as well on DVD some snowy afternoon.