Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) User Reviews

MOMS: Great movie, but toddlers and husbands will be bored

[DaynaSu · 7/10 · 19 November 2007]

My husband and I brought our 4 year old daughter to see this movie last night. We'd already seen (and ADORED) THE BEE MOVIE, and nothing else seemed age appropriate. Despite horrible reviews, we gave it a shot.

I loved this movie. It's not often that a kid's movie can move me to tears, but this one had a powerful (yet simple) message...LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.

My daughter was bored to the point of BEGGING us to leave. This from a kid who sees movie-going as the ultimate treat. While it was visually stimulating overall, there could have been more in the way of special effects.

Jason Bateman was surprisingly good in his role as the accounting mutant. Some of the most moving moments in the film were created by little more than the expression on his face.

Natalie Portman was radiant and lovable and...androgynous? ;) She could easily have been mistaken for a thirteen year old boy throughout most of the film, to the point where it seemed that she had her chest bound up to appear that way. But it's not about the boobies, and it's not a romantic love story, which I greatly appreciated.

No sex. No violence. No profanity. My husband hated it.

There is love...lots of love. Pure love. The kind of love you feel when you're a child, and your mind has not yet been bogged down with the soul-crushing stress of adult responsibility.

This movie is a nice kick-in-the-pants for anybody who needs to be reminded that you don't have to be a kid to see the potential in yourself and the world around you. You just have to relax a little and believe in magic.

How Sad For You If You Were Bored

[technoprisoners · 7/10 · 14 March 2009]

I will admit to being surprised at how many people claimed that this lighthearted tale was a snoozer. If you or your children were bored, how sad for you. While this is not action-packed nor animated, it's filled with subtly delightful moments and a sense of whimsy. Unfortunately these qualities are lost on the those who are so conditioned for immediate gratification and messages that are as subtle as a flying brick. Well, too bad for you.

While far from a cinematic masterpiece, my family and I found this thoroughly enjoyable. Dustin Hoffman is a master at fully inhabiting a character and making you believe that he *is* that person. Portman was less than captivating, strangely, and Bateman was a bit wooden. The performance from Zach Mills was terrific, however. And the store was a place I would have spent a lot of time in as a boy.

And speaking as a husband and father of two, I was not bored at any point during this movie. And I'm a pretty typical red-blooded-sports-fanatic American male. I just haven't lost my ability to enjoy a flight of fantasy every once in a while.

Give this movie a chance if you've got any sense of magic left inside of you.

Oh, and to "luckyunicorn" who took umbrage with the line "You just have to believe in yourself", questioning "Who talks like this?", I would have you know that I say this to my girls all the time. Because it's the truth.

Finally, a film for kids

[intelearts · 7/10 · 28 December 2007]

We all really enjoyed Mr Magorium.

It has a wonderful sense of magic about it and very good solid performances from the leads.

Most of all it is the Emporium, the toy store that provides much of the wonder: real care, thought, and a real sense of wonder pervade the set.

The story is lovingly done, and never too schmaltzy.

We came away talking about our favorite bits the kids remembered lots of small details: a sure sign they really did lose themselves in the movies.

Overall I would say one of the better films for kids that doesn't try to be anything other than it is: it reminded me of 1970s Disney, simple, innocent, magic.

Two heavyweights as light entertainment

[Joejoesan · 7/10 · 12 November 2007]

I guess Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium would have been an ordinary direct-to-DVD feel good fantasy movie if the characters were played by a bunch of unknowns. But we have movie legend Dustin Hoffman in the main lead. His role seems a mix of Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka and his own famous role as Raymond Babbitt (from Rainman). And of course there's the always lovely Natalie Portman as the charming but insecure heroine Molly. She wants to quit her job as store manager and pursue a career in music. But obviously things don't turn that way.

The story of Mr Magorium is rather simple. Mr Magorium is an eccentric 243 year old who wants to let go of life. In order to do so he wants to give his magical toy store to his loyal shop manager Molly. When the toys hear of his plans to quit they all object, driving all the customers away. But Mr Magorium is determined. Will Molly accept her destiny? And is she able to bring back the magic into the store?

This movie is filled with nice special effects (the scenes in the magical store), but it's very surprising that the story is what it is. It's all about Molly finding back the magic in herself to take over the business. The moment she has found that, the movie is over. No epilogue. No love story. In a sense that's surprising. Being a movie made for the Christmas holiday you'd expect that the finale is about choosing life (remember It's a wonderful life?). Mr Magorium thinks he has lived enough and wants to die. Molly tries to convince him to cling to life by showing him how much fun it can be. But Mr Magorium is determined. Enough is enough. He sits down, dies and never reappears. Strange. There's no suspense in that. If he dies that easily the chances are great that Molly will find the strength in herself just that easily. Too bad the screenwriter didn't find any elements to make this story more exciting.

In the end Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium is a sentimental and often corny movie about finding the kid (and magic) in yourself. Both Dustin Hoffmann and Natalie Portman do what they can to keep it entertaining. Even when they make fools out of themselves (the exaggerated accent of Mr Magorium!) and seem to overact in some scenes, they're always nice to look at. Kids will like the movie because of the nice special effects and magical scenes in the store. Adults will also be pleased because the message fits perfectly in the Christmas spirit (and there's no gun nor nudity in this one). Even though there are two heavyweights on the starring bill, this is a very light and friendly family movie. But with Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman on the movie poster I somehow expected a little bit more than just that.

Entertaining for people of all ages

[Gordon-11 · 13 January 2008]

This film is about a magical toy store that can make anything and everything happen.

This film is really magical. Right from the beginning, the amazing toys brings viewers into all the sweet memories of childhood! The vibrant colours and the plentiful magical toys are captivating to say the least. The characters are lively and engaging, particularly Eric (the weird one out) and Henry (the non believer). The plot is innovative, as I could never have imagined a toy store that could throw temper! Apart from the fantasy elements, the emotional subplot is also engaging and touching. It is a great family film. It entertains people of all ages, and it also reminds us to believe in ourselves.

Kind of a letdown

[moviesleuth2 · 6/10 · 8 April 2008]

Seeing the trailer, I imagined a dreamy, whimsical story where I could lose myself in the lost days of my childhood. Director Zach Helm certainly aspires to create something like that, but it doesn't quite work.

This is undoubtedly a kids' movie. Watching this movie with anything else in mind will ruin it for you. It's simple, with a little moral, but it has some great visuals.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a magical toy store, run by an eccentric old man named Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman). Its manager is Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) who was a piano prodigy as a child but is too nervous to take it any further. Eric (Zach Mills) is a lonely kid who has trouble making friends (except for Molly and Mr. Magorium). There's also Henry Weston (aka The Mutant) who is hired to take care of the financial business, but he has no imagination and no sense of fun. These are the central characters in the movie. When Mr. Magorium suddenly says he's leaving and is giving Molly the store, Molly doesn't know what to do.

I think Zach Helm wanted to make a whimsy adventure like "Toys," only better. The effects and visuals work...to a point (the potential for magic in Hot Wheels cars only goes so far). There's a lot of color and feeling, but it all leaves something to be desired.

The acting is not spectacular, but the actors do what is called for. The only actor who really sticks out in my mind is Jason Bateman, who displays a wide range of acting ability.

"Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is a solid effort, but won't go down in history as a classic family movie.

A Nutshell Review: Mr. Magorium's Wonderful Emporium

[DICK STEEL · 7/10 · 12 December 2007]

Dustin Hoffman doesn't really quite marquee a movie now, doesn't he? I still remember one of his earlier classics as The Graduate which still remains one of my favourite films ("Do you want me to seduce you?"), and his award winners like Rain Man, Tootsie, Kramer vs Kramer, or even commercial movies like Hero, Hook and Sphere. Lately though I felt he's relegated to support status and bit roles within ensembles, and even though he's the titular character of Edward Magorium, his screen time is still limited, mirroring Magorium's passing of the baton to Natalie Portman's Molly Mahoney the store manager.

Written and directed by Zach Helm, who wrote the strangely surreal Stranger Than Fiction, I'd come to expect that while Mr. Magorium's Wonderful Emporium is like a nicer, friendlier version of The Little Shop of Horrors, it still in essence retains a modern fairy tale like narrative, with chapters unfolding between episodic scenes. The emporium is a magical toy store where toys come alive, like in other movies like Jumanji, Small Soldiers or even Toy Story, but no talking toys please, that'll stretch it a little too much.

But the fantastical element here belongs to Hoffman's Magorium himself. While we know he's capable of feats, after all, the toy shop and its toys are alive, but the background of the character is deliberately left a little vague, only letting it on that he had lived way, way past retirement, and has decided to expire. In looks, he's like a cross between Albert Einstein with his frizzy hair, and an aging Willy Wonka in his Chocolate Factory, welcoming children everyday to make his place their playground, speaks with a lisp, and is an avid shoe-wearer. In character, cross Hoffman's mannerisms in Rain Man and comedic angle in Meet the Fockers, and you have Magorium.

So what of Portman? Her Molly is a piano child prodigy who got stuck, and finds herself working for Magorium in the magical shop. What she's lacking is the belief in herself, and one of Magorium's intention through implicit training is to impart some lessons in self- belief. Which means throwing her into the deep end of the pool, and therein this changing of the guard. Molly can whine, protest, and soon finds herself with enormous shoes to fill, but has her hands full in trying to convince a skeptic, Henry (Jason Bateman) the accountant brought in to do the books and company valuation, that the store is alive.

Basically, it's a story about friendship, with new ties that bind, when old ties fade away, the never ending cycle of knowing new folk, while others sometimes unfortunately slip behind. The focus is strongly affixed to this theme, while those enticed by the Technicolor and expected a visual effects extravaganza as seen in the trailers, will be slightly disappointed. Sure, the effects were necessary to bring the Emporium to life, but not seen as primary, and definitely nothing truly groundbreaking.

It's also suitable for those who grew up with lots of toys and spend time in make pretend and even talking to them, well, this movie is definitely for you. Sit tight during the end credits too, as the production crew get described in really child like terms, and is education for those who do not know what those technical terms normally mean. Sit through to the end, and get yourself rewarded with a small scene as well.

Magic without boundaries equals visual effects without heart...

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 25 July 2010]

Toy store manager and one-time piano prodigy--unhappy with the direction of her life and seemingly blocked artistically--is willed ownership of the store by her boss, the magically feckless Mr. Magorium, who knows the exact day and time he will pass on to another world. Writer-director Zach Helm has obviously seen a lot of movies and knows many card tricks, but he doesn't write characters--only occupations. There's the store owner (Dustin Hoffman, channeling Ed Wynn from "Babes in Toyland"), his beautiful-yet-unmarried assistant (Natalie Portman, all doe-eyed smiles and half-laughs), the humorless accountant who learns to loosen up (Jason Bateman, pulling a Jason Bateman), and the wizened youngster (Zach Mills) who helps out in the store and knows all its incredible secrets. Turns out the Emporium really is magical, with dolls that come to life and rooms that change completely with the turn of a knob. How far did Helm want to take this scenario before it became utter nonsense? The filmmaker is so concentrated on the visual accoutrements (and bowling his audience over with sparkly eye-candy) that he fails to develop the story. The movie opens on a sleepy bookmaker who lives down in the basement, but we rarely see him again. As for Hoffman, he doesn't really get into the personage of the happy-go-lucky toy specialist; worse, the irresponsible nature of Mr. Magorium--whose business office is awash with unpaid bills--lingers over the upbeat finale like a dark shadow. There are good moments, particularly in the budding friendship between Bateman and Mills, but if Helm was hoping for a romantic subplot between the man and the woman, it got lost somewhere in the shuffle. In fact, "Magorium" is all shuffle and show, and its heart is hard to find. ** from ****

faNtastIc on sCreen chemIstRy

[MrLambert · 10/10 · 23 September 2013]

Let's get something straight. This - Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - is my realm. Some guys make movies, but not me. No! I am the one who watches. Upon recently viewing this movie upwards of 250 times in the past month, I can say this is a 100 percent perfect film that will not make you blue, but rather cheer you up even if you are cold and alone. Though I wish I could watch this with my family, I know that is unlikely even if I take full measures. Alright, let's talk about Mr. Edward Magorium. He was a good man and a good toy store owner. He didn't deserve what happened to him. He didn't deserve it at all. But I'd watch him again and tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. When you make it Edward versus Bellini, or Edward versus Molly, Edward loses! Simple as that. This is on Mr. Magorium, not Eric, not Molly. I mean really, what'd you expect me to do? Just simply roll over and not watch this on repeat? That I wouldn't take the time – extreme amounts of time – to watch this myself? Wrong! Think again.

If you don't agree with me, then I'm sorry you feel that way - but know this: If you've already read this far, I won.

Tread lightly, Mr Lambert

Mr Magorium's Adventures in McHollywood

[alleytrash · 6/10 · 3 January 2008]

So we took the kids to see this terminally (no pun intended) sentimental flick yesterday. I was expecting a crowd being school holidays and all but the movies were virtually deserted, we almost had the theatre to ourselves. Given we took seven kids ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old, this was a useful cross-section of the intended audience.

This is a family flick so for those of you seeking solace from "school holiday boredom hell", the kids' opinions are most important. Good news– they sat through it. There was some restlessness during the (perhaps unnecessarily) long dialogues, but otherwise the general consensus was that they "liked it but it was sad when he died". I am not giving away any secrets here, virtually the first thing you find out in the story is that Mr. Magorium is about to cark it. It goes like this; there's a fantastical looking toy shop in a big city wedged between two modern office blocks. It's filled with magical toys and the shop itself is "alive". Enter Hollywood logic-bypass number 3: you only see the magic if you believe. Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is the owner, proprietor and "dad" of the store. He is also over 200 years old and dying - something he is taking remarkably well. We never find out why he is dying, but it seems he can select the time and date himself. Magorium is preparing to hand the store over to Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman),a 23 year-old girl who runs the store, believes in the magic but doubts herself. For the purpose of bequeathing his estate Magorium hires an accountant (Jason Bateman) who is given an amusing nickname that I shall adopt immediately and for the rest of my life when referring to accountants. The accountant of course does not believe and thus does not see the magic in the store. There's an endearing but misfit kid who can't make friends and is in need of a father figure. The plot progresses exactly as you would expect, up to and including the inevitable sickly-sweet ending. The actors did their best with what they were presented with, although I found the Magorium character awkward. An earlier, darker movie about Magorium in the 18th century would be worth watching.

Most Mums, Grandmums and suitably inclined kids will probably enjoy it. I didn't hear them talking much about it afterward, there was no "did you like the bit when...?" in the car, but they sat through it and paid attention.

I had a couple of problems with the movie. Yes it was over-the-top sentimental, but that's OK, it's what I expected.

Problem 1: I didn't actually believe the film-makers believed in what they were doing. It felt like a sentimental movie made by people who weren't actually sentimental themselves, but thought they knew what sentimental people might want. In "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", "Mary Poppins" and various Disneys of that ilk - I could at least believe that the filmmakers really believed in a world that could be magical and truly positive all the time. In MMWE, it felt like the producers (of which there were a ludicrous number) may give up the pretence at any point and have the entire store destroyed by alien machines in a blood-bath. Actually that would have been great - Portman could have revived her Star Wars character, pulled out a light-saber and gone to battle. I digress.

Problem 2: This is a biggie for me and more reflective of McHollywood kids' culture than the movie itself. MMWE was very presumptuous. The movie expected you to love Mr Magorium, The Store, The Toys and Molly from the word go. It didn't even attempt to earn this admiration. The whole thing was slapped on the table in the first five minutes and from that point onwards assumed you were hooked. Willie Wonka, Winnie-the-Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Peter Pan - all these characters had to work hard to earn your admiration. This required imagination, introduction, "seduction", convincing. For me this movie was the epitome of Hollywood commercialisation of children's affections. It assumed children will love anything that is made for them. No wonder children are confused about what love means. My children have not seen "Alvin and the Chipmunks" yet, but they already know the characters names and have eaten the Happy Meal. I hate this stuff. Now I can hear the protests at this comparison already, because MMWE tries very hard not to be like these "product" movies. I don't see any MMWE merchandise anywhere and the film was very light on product placement (although rumours that it is without product placement are incorrect - there's a completely unnecessary and out-of-place iPod in the first 5 minutes and a Matchbox Car stand later on). Maybe the filmmakers made the mistaken assumption that by decommercialising the movie, children would have to love the characters. But it takes more than that to win a child's love and memory. I just asked my seven year-old if he thought much about the movie or remembered it. "Nah".

Redeeming features? There was one. If you have a child that is being forced through circumstance to confront the death of an older relative or friend right now then the movie has a very useful, positive and encouraging (though carefully non-religious) message about death. That even seemed to be one of the movies objectives. If I had to find a movie to start younger kids discussing death, I would consider this.

Overall, this will probably shut your kids up for 90 minutes and appeal to you if you are die-hard sentimentalist. Don't ask more of Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium than that.

Smoke and Mirrors

[pschwebe · 4/10 · 9 March 2008]

99 words or less:

Well-intentioned, but the writer/director Zach Helm has no faith in the audience, nor in film as a visual medium. There is no wonder here, only great swells of music where it says in the script. What little he has to say is spoon fed to you by the dialog and the voice-overs. Colorful SFX can't compensate for the walking clichés that replace real characters: Magical Guy. Blocked Artist. Lonely Child. Boring Accountant. Yeah, it's a Kid's Movie. Cap'n Krunch is Kid's Cereal. Does that make it good?

I feel better now.

The only review you need to read

[kickboxgrrl · 10/10 · 7 March 2008]

I am amazed by the unbelievably DENSE comments and reviews I've read, apparently written by folks who have completely missed the point. These people did not have the courage for 90 short minutes to suspend their cynicism, disbelief, and cowardly need for proof or substantiation of every little thing. (Big ol' raspberry to them!)

A kid's movie? "Just" for children? Heck no. Rather, this movie is "just" for those, regardless of physical age, who have been fortunate enough to retain any portion of their own childlike -- notice, I did not say childISH -- appreciation and pure unclouded understanding of wonder, simplicity, love, and of magic found in the everyday.

If your heart was not touched, even in some intangible microscopic way, by this movie - are you sure you still have one?

Believe In Yourself and the Magic Happens

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 2 April 2009]

Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) is the manager of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the awesome toy store owned by Mr. Edward Magorium (Dustin Hoffman). Molly was a promising composer and piano player when she was a girl, and now she is a twenty-three year-old insecure woman that feels stuck in her job. Among the costumers of the Emporium is the lonely hat collector Eric Applebaum (Zach Mills), who has only Molly and Mr. Magorium as friends. When the last pair of shoes that Mr. Magorium bought in Toscana is worn, he hires the accountant Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) that he calls Mutant to adjust the accounts of the Emporium. Further, he claims that he is two hundred and forty-three year old and his time to go has come; he gives a block of wood called Congreve cube to Molly and asks Henry to transfer the Emporium to her name. Molly tries to convince Mr. Magorium to stay in his magical toy store instead of "going".

"Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is a pleasant fantasy with a positive message that anything can happen, even magic, when you believe in yourself. The ambiguous story told by Eric may be metaphorically interpreted by the adults or just be seen as a magical toy store by the kids and the result is equally good. The sweet Natalie Portman is perfectly cast in the role of Molly, but Dustin Hoffman plays a quite boring Mr. Magorium. The special effects are amazing. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Loja Mágica de Brinquedos" ("The Magical Toy Store")

One of my BIGGEST movie-going disappointments

[salorkent · 3/10 · 20 November 2007]

I've been a movie lover all of my life (which means almost sixty years of loving movies); saying that, I'm also one who tries to find something good to say about nearly every movie I've seen. I even defended such turkeys as "Ishtar" and "Mom and Dad Save the Universe." Sorry. No can do, this time around. "Magorium" was such a total disappointment, I hardly know where to begin. So instead, let me point out my disappointment by asking a few questions. Just who the heck IS Magorium? We learn almost nothing about him, most importantly, we get no back story as to his connection to the toy shop (most importantly, WHY a toy store.) Same with Natalie Portman's character. How did she get the job at the Emporium? Clearly she loves the shop and it loves her, so why does she suddenly find it so difficult to take over? Moreover, what is Bateman's character all about, and why did NOTHING happen in developing his relationship with Portman? So many more questions --- so little time. You get my drift. Dustin Hoffman is one of the great actors of our time. What a waste. Portman is more than competent, and there were brief flashes of character development. But a few flashes weren't enough. Jason Bateman had so much potential that the script clear didn't cash in on. Okay. Sorry about the rant. I'm so deeply disappointed. I gave up going to see "Fred Claus" for this? Especially giving that the movie just stopped. No wrap-up. No ending. It just stopped!!! Wha?

Rainman meets Willy Wonka...and it's frightful.

[big_kmc · 20 July 2008]

I watched this movie based on the recommendation of a friend and boy is that the last time I listen to her. Five minutes after the introduction of Dustin Hoffman's character and seeing he had pulled Rainman out of the closet for this, well I knew I was in for a bumpy ride. I am embarrassed for him and for anyone related to him for that matter. I think a lesser established Hollywood star would have worked much better here but his overreaching for this role goes along so well with the rest of the movie's theme...OVERDONE! This movie was completely overproduced. It had no fluidity at all. For the people who claim that those of us who don't like it are dense and "don't get it", we get it, we get it! I have a concussion from how beat over the head I was with the messages of the movie. It's not that hard people. It's the "you are more special than you thought you were" theme and we saw it in everything from Dumbo to Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings. The only difference is that those movies credited us with having more than two brain cells to rub together. The scenes with Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman jumping on the bed and dancing on bubble packaging were so kitsch that I had to turn my head. By the end of the movie I most related to the little stuffed monkey who seemed to be pleading to be taken out of this monstrosity.

Fun ride that comes to a sudden halt

[mrtimlarabee · 6/10 · 18 November 2007]

First off, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a fund kids movie. Kids will delight in the visuals and imagination found in Mr. Magorium's magical toy store. Parents should be pleased that there's absolutely nothing offensive in the movie. It's actually a pleasant surprise to see a film stray away from bathroom gags ubiquitous to even the most innocent looking kids films these days.

The store in the film's title is a truly special place. Toys can come to life, books can magically be written, and there's even a room that when a dial is turned, it takes you to a different place. The store's owner, played by Dustin Hoffman in an apparent homage to Willy Wonka or Mel Blank (it's the voice), I'm not sure, is a goofy, magical, 242 year old man who's looking to pass the store onto its manager, Molly Mahoney, played by Natalie Portman, who feels she doesn't have the magic to keep the store going.

Also central to the story is Eric, a lonely boy who seems to get lost with his imagination inside the store and has trouble making friends. We also meet Henry, an accountant Mr. Magorium hires and says is a "counting mutant." Our central characters refer to him as mutant throughout the film.

The film serves up a number of old gags and puns for humor ("Have you seen Mr. Magorium." "Yeah, he's about this tall, gray hair..." you get the idea). While this celebrates the innocence of the film, it gets to be old hat after the second reel.

The characters have a number of conflicts. Mr. Magorium wants to pass the store on to Molly, but she feels she can't. She is also a struggling pianist unable to write her own piece of work. Eric has no social life outside of the store, much to his mom's concern as well as Molly's and Mr. Magorium's. Henry is so lost in his job that he's forgotten how to have fun.

All this is well and good and almost resolved until we to get to the end. Throughout the movie, Eric is telling the story as if it were a book and each chapter's name alludes to something that is going to happen. The final chapter's name is confounding when we get to the end. It's as if bits and pieces of the resolution were left on the cutting room floor. I think this may be a case of a children's movie that was cut short to allow for a shorter running time (just over 90 minutes).

The bottom line: This is a great imaginative ride the whole family can enjoy and the story's pretty good to boot. It just seems to fall apart all at once at the end.

I'm probably too old for this

[raypdaley182 · 6/10 · 5 February 2008]

It's good but it's a little too weird for my liking and I didn't like the ending.

Take some of both versions of Willy Wonka/Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, sprinkle with some magic and you have this very weird movie.

Dustin Hoffman plays Mr Magorium, he's over 200 years old, runs a toy emporium and it's magic. Hoffman plays the role well but I feel he wasn't 1st pick (I still think Robin Williams or Mike Myers turned this down). It does feel a bit like "The Cat In The Hat". The use of colour is amazing.

The films main issue is it's very low on plot or storyline. Magorium decides it's his last day on Earth and he gives the shop to his Manager played pretty well by Natalie Portman. She just has the right kind of personality to be the shy girl who doesn't quite believe in magic but is willing to be converted.

I get the feeling she wasn't 1st pick for her role either. The little boy playing Eric is incredibly annoying. Kids don't like him because he's weird. Those ears and that haircut aren't helping him much either though.

The guy playing the mutant is pretty good, he plays his role well enough to be convincing as an accountant who regains a more childlike inner self.

The film looks great, the internals of the shop itself look wonderful. Special effects are very well used but slightly over the top. The film feels a lot like both "Mary Poppins" & "Bedknobs & Broomsticks" in certain places.

It's definitely for the kids, adults aren't going to enjoy it all that much I feel. Magorium doesn't die as such but they have a funeral for him (never a great idea in a kids film, especially one with another 20 minutes of screen time to fill).

The eventual outcome of Portman discovering her inner magic to revive the store is nothing if predictable. The film hasn't really got an ending, it just peters out having run out of ideas. Best left to the kids, it'll do well on DVD I think.

Better than expected

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 1 May 2017]

I went into MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM fully expecting to hate it, yet I was left pleasantly surprised by the experience. It utilises the backdrop and narrative of a children's film to explore themes of work, commitment, death, and loyalty, and it does so in an interesting way. The setting is a magical toy shop presided over by a delightful Dustin Hoffman, who steals all of his scenes especially compared to the lacklustre Natalie Portman. I was pleased that the film doesn't overly rely on aimless CGI effects; they are present and they do serve the story, but not at the expensive of the more important film elements. The story is sentimental without being sickeningly so, and it's even quite moving in places. It reminded me of the old-fashioned feel of WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

Magically Disjointed

[annie88_99 · 5/10 · 23 March 2008]

Mr. M's Magic store is on the brink of disaster when its faithless manager can't seem to muster the belief in herself necessary to keep the store's spirits and magic alive. Unfortunately, the movie as whole suffers from the same affliction. There were too many plot elements that didn't hold together and too many moments that go unexplained, distracting the viewer from the charming characters and promising premise. The store is magical and exciting, and great fun to explore throughout the movie. But the movie's special effects didn't cast enough magic to save this movie from itself.

The movie begins with a voice-over narration by the character Eric, a friendless boy who either a) hangs out at the toy store behaving strangely and freaking out the other kids, or b) provides 'wise' advice to his friend Mahoney, the beautiful store manager. We're also introduced to Bellini, and told that the story is his because he's keeping track of Mr. M's life. But then we never really see Bellini again....and if it's HIS story, why wasn't he narrating? Distracting!!!

And then who is this kid Eric? What is he doing in this picture? And why is HE telling the story? We never really find out. Eric ends up sticking out like a sore thumb, with no real connection to the story or a satisfactory resolution to his own struggle to find an age appropriate friend. There is one particularly disturbing scene, where Eric brings home the store's accountant (played by Jason Bateman) to see his hat collection, and the pair are caught playing pretend in his room by his mother. For a children's movie, that scene was just too weird, and failed to connect properly to the rest of the story.

Mahoney, played by the lovely Natalie Portman, is a character that doesn't quite fit in with this movie either. Supposedly a severe doubter and faithless incompetent, Mahoney actually comes across as merely stuck, but otherwise capable. The character is very flat, as the only thing we really learn about her is that she is pretty good on piano, but doesn't know how to finish her first concerto. Her relationship with Eric is never fully explored and her connection with Jason Bateman's character is oddly absent until very near the end of the story. The primary conflict, her fear about running the store, is flawed. There is no clear evidence that Mahoney couldn't run the toy store Mr. M leaves to her, as we've watched 80% of the movie with her doing just that, so the main struggle of the film just isn't that convincing nor seem that difficult to overcome.

One of the most distracting plot elements is this stupid block of wood that Mr. M gives Mahoney near the beginning of the story. In the end it plays a key role in the movie, but it's never adequately explained how or why. Why a block of wood? What's the connection with Portman's character? What is a congreve cube? How is a kid supposed to understand all this?

Dustin Hoffman's Mr. M was convincingly played, but I found his speech impediment a barrier to understanding him, and wasn't sure why Mr. Hoffman made that choice. Perhaps to appear more childlike? At a critical point in the movie, Mr. M announces to Mahoney that he is going to leave that day, but doesn't follow through on his promise. Instead of creating the crisis of faith his absence should have created, the movie drags out his departure. Mahoney drags Mr. M all over town and then eventually to a hospital, where he's admitted and spends the night, just to get up and leave the next day. What? If the scene was meant to show Mahoney's compassion for Mr. M it failed to do so. If it was supposed to create sadness for the audience, it also failed. I couldn't wait for him to finally go!!! Why are we dragging this out people???

There are many, many questions with this movie: Is the accountant in love with Mahoney? Is he a pedophile? Does Mahoney believe in magic or doesn't she? Who is Mr. Magorium? Where does he come from and what's his deal? Who is Eric and why is he being treated like one of the staff one minute and then an arm's length stranger the next? Mahoney seems to believe in magic, 'cause she's doing it, but then she doesn't because why?

Fundamentally this movie is well-intentioned, but not thoughtful enough to hold together and to be more than an out of control mess.

Even better than I remember

[Lia-74937rs · 10/10 · 20 June 2019]

This movie was every bit as goofy and fun and happy as I remembered it being, but watching it as an adult brought it to another level, and any adult who says otherwise... well they may have missed the point.

Magic is all around us, and there are so many little things to find joy in, like a lovely pair of shoes you found in Tuscany. This is what Mr. Magorium saw, and that's how he lived a fulfilling life. As we grow up we so often become more like The Mutant, caught up in work and seeing things to be just what they are and nothing more, when people criticize this movie that is the life they are living, they're 'just' guys, as Mahoney says. Kids see magic in everything, and maybe if adults did too we would be happier.

Kids will certainly enjoy it, and if the adults can set aside preconceived notions of what being an adult has to mean, they can enjoy it too.

Please watch this movie.

Not Perfect But Still Good

[wiholke2020 · 6/10 · 16 January 2017]

I remember seeing this movie as a kid and liking this movie. Now that I am a teenager I still like this movie but I have newer thoughts on this movie. So let's discuss, shall we?

So first off, the movie begins and already the musical score has shown itself to be really powerful and great. The opening credits scene is nicely done as well. When the movie actually starts is where I kinda start getting nit-picky. The movie is narrated by a kid, and just in my opinion, he is a little wooden and you can tell he probably hasn't voice acted much. His actual acting is a different situation.

We get introduced into the main protagonist, Mahoney, portrayed by Natalie Portman, who is great in this movie. I am a musician and so is she in this story so I can really connect to her struggles and thoughts. I love people who I can connect to. I like all the actors in this movie but she stands out which is not a bad thing.

When the Emporium, which is basically a character by itself, is introduced, there's a montage of the awesome magical things the store can do. My only problem with this montage is that some of the shots are awkward and a bit off in some places. And the CGI, and let's be honest in some places there had to be CGI, it's not the best and looks like a straight to DVD movie even though it was released in theaters. However, I love all the store has to offer us. It's like Toy Story but live action which I think is pretty cool.

Now it's not just the main kid in this movie but all the kids in my opinion seem off. I felt like all they had to say was pretty cheesy and because they are just kids they don't act the best. Apart from that, the rest of the actors are actually really good and have really good lines. The comedic moments and dialogue is really good. The slapstick in this movie isn't the best and didn't always land with me. And in my opinion, because of the big picture of this movie, some of the slapstick is actually not needed. Another nit-pick, as the movie goes on, some of the editing in terms of putting together the shots don't always align and are sometimes painfully obvious. Also, each "chapter" is organized as if it was a book, which I don't mind. However, the chapter titles are pretty cheesy and in my opinion, strange. But maybe that's the genius of this movie. There are a couple really good scenes in this movie and one of my favorites is when Eric, the kid, shows Henry, or the "Mutant," his hat collection. They have such a nice playful banter and always makes my family and I crack up laughing.

My only big flaw with this movie is the end or the last "chapter". I just don't get it. After Mahoney obviously made the block of wood fly because she believed and Henry passed out, Henry wakes up and Mahoney acts like it never happened. Then she believes again or whatever followed by surprisingly awkward dialogue. Then she starts to conduct the store back alive and the CGI here is definitely out dated and pretty bad actually. Also, there is like five seconds where the movie turns into like a computer animated film and it's completely useless. One of the last shots is of Mahoney conducting the store to life again but the problem is that almost nothing is happening and not to mention Mahoney's conducting is pretty awkward. And the very last shot is also pretty strange. There are just things I don't understand about this ending!

Overall, the movie definitely isn't bad. Far from it. It just isn't great. There are for sure some great scenes, and definitely some awkward ones. Overall the special effects were mediocre which is disappointing. The sound editing and mixing are fine. The score is pretty good and overall the characters are good as well. Just the script and mainly towards the end just kind of gets a little ridiculous. This is a good movie and it is worth seeing.

Mr. Magorium is 243 years old (so are his jokes)

[Kellcath · 1/10 · 29 December 2007]

My first question is, who rated this a 10???? "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is a stinker. I read that this was the debut feature for Zach Helm (the screenwriter of "Stranger Then Fiction") so I took a chance and took my kids to see it. Too bad the the costumes and makeup were as cheap as the jokes. The producers were hoping to get a "Willy Wonka" type film (so was I). However, they got Dustin Hoffman running around with a goofy lisp(which got annoying very, very quickly).

This is a film for kids, but most filmmaker now understand that it's the parents (me) that are paying. We want to enjoy the film too.

Why are talented actors like Natalie Portman, Hoffman and Jason Bateman signing on for this???? Why? Why? Why?

Apparently I'm in the minority: IT WAS A WONDERFUL MOVIE

[onthatnote · 10/10 · 1 January 2009]

I watched this with my wife and daughter. We loved it. We thought that the casting was perfect. Hoffman was perfect in the role and brought it to life. Portman was equally perfect for the role. And the kid who played Eric was wonderful. I don't understand the many negative critics of the acting. I thought that the casting couldn't have been better.

The set was incredible. As was the CGI. The Emporium was truly magical. Made you wish it actually existed.

The writing was great. Thoroughly enjoyable story, characters, and humor.

Really don't know why this movie didn't get a higher rating.

Charming Family Movie

[slightlymad22 · 7/10 · 11 August 2014]

I caught this movie on TV with my 8 year old son the other day.

Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) is the manager of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, an awesome toy store owned by Mr. Edward Magorium. One of the regular costumers is the lonely boy called Eric, who has only Molly and Mr. Magorium for friends. Mr. Magorium hires the accountant, Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) to sort out the accounts of the Emporium. Furthermore, he asks Henry to transfer the Emporium to Molly's name upon his death.

Hoffman seems to be having a lot of fun behind Mr. Magorium's hairdo, bushy eyebrows and lisping vocals.

Natalie Portman (who learned to play the piano for her role) is lovely and has a permanent sparkle in her eye.

Jason Bateman is Jason Bateman, much like Ben Stiller always plays the same type of Ben Stiller type characters, with the exception of Zoolander and Dodgeball. But Bateman doesn't have a Zoolander or Dodgeball character in his filmography, and the characters he plays all seem to blend in to one.

I don't understand all the negative comments about this movie, as both me and my son enjoyed it. Portman and Hoffman are always worth watching, and I'm puzzled as to why it has taken me so long to watch it.

Hoffman's 'Emporium' works too little 'wonder' to audiences above age 8.

[vip_ebriega · 4/10 · 22 January 2010]

My Take: While aimed at the right audiences of ages 3 and up, it doesn't really capture the attention of its older audiences.

I find nothing wrong with a family movie that's all too cute and fuzzy, which is the category in which MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM falls in. But what the makers of these kind of family movies seem to forget is that next to their easily-distracted target audience of little tykes is an adult who only wishes for the film to touch his/her inner child. While its elaborate and visual energy is bound to please kids, MR. MAGORIUM fails to engage everyone else.

In fairness, Dustin Hoffman does what he is intended to in the role of the young-spirited toy manufacturer of the title. It's also one of his weakest performances to date, as his child-like character's behavior quickly turns from cutesy to downright cloying; it's a one-note performance at best. Natalie Portman plays Molly Mahoney, Magorium's eager helper who finds out one day that his free-spirited, young-minded employer is "leaving" (Remember this is a kid's movie. The very mention of death from a light-hearted character might be a bit much for the kiddies), and that she is about to take his place. There's one problem: He knows the magic behind the toy store, while she doesn't. To add to the fact of the film's free spirit, there's also a workaholic, no-nonsense accountant (Jason Bateman) who discovers his inner child by playing with fancy clown hats and stuffed toys, while the adults in the audience feel nothing.

MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM will delight the younger audiences, but like many recent family movies, that's the extent of its purpose. Adults looking for a pleasant time for EVERYONE in the family should take the family elsewhere. Unless you just want a comfy, cutesy fantasy you can trust to babysit the kids, MR. MAGORIUM is a friendly time to distract the kids.

Rating: ** out of 5.