Movie Review: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium by JR

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (2007)
Starring: Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Bateman
Directed by: Zach Helm
Genre: Family/Fantasy/Comedy
MPAA Rating: G
Release Date: November 16, 2007

Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) owns a magical toy store, but will be retiring soon and leaving the business to his only other employee, Molly (Natalie Portman). He hires Henry, an accountant, to stabilize his finances before he leaves, and nobody is happy about any of it.

Since I first saw the trailer for “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”, I knew it was a movie that I would love. The colors, the quirkiness, Natalie Portman’s haircut, I just knew. Sometimes you just know. As disappointed as I was to read all of the negative reviews, I was still excited to see it. The movie didn’t disappoint at all.

Dustin Hoffman is enchanting as Mr. Magorium. Just as he has transformed into wonderful characters such as Captain Hook and Raymond Babbitt, he does it again here. He’s simply adorable! He has such emotion in everything he says. You really believe that he’s been alive for over 450 years. You really believe him when he says that his toyshop is magical. You really believe him when he says that he’s “leaving”. Not “retiring”, not “dying”, but leaving. Isn’t that a nice idea? That we get to choose when we “leave”? Now if that isn’t great children’s storytelling, I don’t know what is.

Natalie Portman as Molly is just as magical as Dustin Hoffman as Mr. Magorium. Molly is a sweet girl in her early twenties who doesn’t seem to know what she wants in life. She used to be a pianist and has always dreamed of being professional, but finds herself stuck in the toy shop, not quite ready to move forward. When Mr. Magorium announces his departure, she is truly sad despite her dreams to leave the toy store. The relationship between Molly and Mr. Magorium is so sweet and innocent, very father/mentor to her daughter, it shakes her world when he says he is leaving. She always thought he’d be around. It forces her to realize where she really belongs. It’s the wake-up call she needed.

Jason Bateman rounds out the recognizable cast as Henry the accountant. Or as they all not so lovingly call him: The Mutant. Unfortunately, Bateman doesn’t receive nearly enough screen time as he deserves, so his character just seems like it was thrown in at the last minute to be an adversary/unlikely love interest. Still, when he inevitably comes around in the end, it’s very touching.

The special effects in this film are what appeal to the target audience, and they are spectacular. The colors are beautiful and the toys really to seem to come to life. It’s just as captivating to an adult as it is to a child. Some of the shots are simply breathtaking as well, such as the scene where Molly and Mr. Magorium take over an unsuspecting mattress store, and where Molly and Mr. Magorium dance in the park over bubble wrap. The movie is simply magical.
So say what you like about Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. Say that it’s boring and hokey. Whatever you like, go ahead. But for the people who are kids at heart, Mr. Magorium’s is the place to be.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Jenny Rushing
beccajane67@yahoo.com