Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (imdb)
Mr. Magorium’s (Dustin Hoffman) Wonder Emporium is a magical toyshop of which he’s been the proprietor for centuries. But, it seems that Mr. Magorium’s time on this earth has run up and, as he prepares to move on, the toy store and his young protege, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman), must learn to let go.
Plot sounds trite? It is. Imagine Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory remade by Wes Anderson. The movie is bizarre and the lessons on life and self discovery forced. Overall, the movie drags through its relatively short 90 minute run time laced with cliche lines like “the magic box is you” or “your life is an occasion.” The movie even features an actual child, Eric (Zach Mills), who eventually leads Molly and the store’s all-too-serious accountant (Jason Batemen) to rediscover their inner child and the magic within. In the end, the confluence of rather predictable plot points and characters just came off a bit too forced for my tastes.
Natalie Portman does her best with the Molly Mahoney role. Playing a girl who feels as though she’s losing her “sparkle” but her performance, too, seems forced.
The movie, though, is not without merit. Two things stand out in particular. First, Dustin Hoffman is delightful in the Mr. Magorium role. Quirky, fun, and perfectly costumed in his eccentric suits. His is the only performance that is natural and memorable. Second, the set design and cinematography, particularly within the magic toy store, is a real pleasure to watch. If only the story and other characters were written with the same passion and artistry.
2 - 2.5 hats out of 5
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