Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Rating G Formats DVD Genre children Starring Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman Directed by Zach Helm Publisher 20th Century Fox External Links Official Mr. Magorium's Website

I have wanted to see Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium since it was released in theaters. Being the only one in my group of friends who still thoroughly enjoys slightly childish movies I did not have any movie partners. If it wasn’t for a sort of phobia about going to the movies alone, I would have been in the front row. When the opportunity for me to finally watch it arose,  I was definitely not disappointed.

Zach Helm knows how to take his audience either back to their childhood or create a whole new game of make-believe for them. I say this because Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is a movie that appeals to all ages. A child will watch it and be amazed by all the toys and magic that are in this film. Adults that are either watching it to appease their children or those who are merely watching it for fun will be swimming in a sea of happy memories from their childhood and wonderment. A person feels fabulous after watching it.

Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is a 243 year old man who owns a magical toy store. Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) is a self-doubting and quirky young woman who manages Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium and is also Magorium’s apprentice. She is an extremely talented pianist. She can perfectly play concertos of many of the great pianists that came before her. When she was younger she was considered to be an up and coming musical prodigy who would someday make her own concertos. Now at 23 she has yet to move on to that lofty goal. She is “stuck as a person” and needs to figure out how to get moving again.

Magorium meanwhile is inexplicably trying to get his accounts for the store that he has been running for give-or-take the last century, in order. He hires an accountant, Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) to take charge of his accounts. The accountant lacks a sense of humor and fun. He will not acknowledge that the toy store is magic, that there is a time for relaxing and that he can enjoy his life. It is Eric Applebaum, a strange yet supremely nice kid, that befriends Weston and shows him how to have fun and believe in the unbelievable.

As the accountant works to get the store in financial stability Mr. Magorium tells Mahoney that she will be the successor of the shop as it seems Magorium is going to die or “depart”. She is upset and angry with Magorium for leaving her to deal with such a big situation. She tries to show him the small fun and ridiculous things he will miss out on if he does in fact depart. This doesn't stop Magorium from leaving and Mahoney reluctantly but miraculously takes over the store.

Dustin Hoffman is just delightful as Mr. Magorium. He plays an eccentric remarkably well, switching between a fun, crazy, and child-like little man and a wise person. You want to play with him and yet you want him to sit you down and give you life lessons. How his character is presented is also just awesome to watch. He has out of control white hair and eyebrows. Throughout most of the movie he also wears slightly wacky suits, but always manages to look dapper. Hoffman embodies the word tomfoolery in the best possible way.

Natalie Portman has always been a favorite actress of mine. She plays characters that are down-to-earth and generally pretty wholesome without being perfect. In the previews she seemed like she was a little too creepily happy about everything and the emporium. In the actual movie though she is happy, but it is also mixed with anger and sadness. She also does this crazy thing with her fingers throughout most of the movie where she is playing an imaginary piano. She plays Mahoney impeccably and likeably.

Jason Bateman played pretty much the same character he always plays in movies. His character is usually the serious guy that has a fun side hidden deep down. I still liked how he played Henry Westin however. It was heartwarming when Henry finally let’s his guard down and enjoys his life for a little while. Eric Applebaum (Zach Mills) helps Henry realize that there is a time for fun and being a little goofy as well as a time for seriousness and work. The dynamic between these two in the movie is touching and dripping with cuteness.

Zach Mills may have out shined the already remarkable cast. Did I mention he is only about thirteen years old? His character Eric Applebaum is very unique. Since he is so different other kids don’t take well to him. He is the voice of reason in the entire movie. Zach Mills is a talent. He held his own next to superb actors and was just fantastic. I would very much like to see more of him in movies and television.

The special features on the DVD included some small extras that served as a tool for getting to know the cast. They were nice but, again, the movie was definitely strong enough where the extras are just that, extras.

The movie was spectacular even though some parts are a little corny to watch. It is almost like being in a big fantasy land where the world’s problems don’t apply. This is definitely a sweet escape from adult worries and the like. So sit back, relax, and be a kid again. It will be super-de-duper fun!