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Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
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Review #567 of 365
Movie Review of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) [G] 93 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $11.00
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 17 November 2007
Time: 12:00 pm
DVD Release Date: 4 March 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
Soundtrack: order the CD below
Directed by: Zach Helm (debut)
Screenplay by: Zach Helm (Stranger than Fiction)
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Ted Ludzik (Hairspray) • Natalie Portman (V for Vendetta) • Zach Mills (The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause) • Dustin Hoffman (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) • Jason Bateman (The Kingdom) • Rebecca Northan ("Alice, I Think")
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Click to see photos from the Premiere of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Click to read the spoiler points for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
If you don't remember reading
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium as a kid, it a good thing because you didn't. Though it sounds like a classic children's novel turned film and is even structured like a book with clever chapter titled sequences, this was Zach Helm's screenplay first and a novelization second. The drawback of going this route is that the story, characters, and wondrous nature have not survived the test of time like
Charlotte's Web, for example. Therefore, there's no built-in fan base of people who remember this children's classic from their childhood. Instead, it's something we've all got to get used to; and, unfortunately, it takes too much time to get used to with too little pay off in the end. Moreover, while billed clearly as a magical film for little kids, either the themes are a bit advanced or after the sense of wonder associated with a magical toy store wears nearly completely off, little ones are bound to be as ready to escape the theatre as the store's bouncy balls.
The story is told through the eyes of Eric Applebaum (Zach Mills), the hat collector, and child far beyond his years in understanding the world despite the fact that he seems to be without many friends, especially none his own age. Eric's favorite place to hang out and help out is Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, a fantastical toy shop full of marvelously magical toys. These toys really are magical, not just magical in their impact on little kids or adults that are still kids at heart. The Wonder Emporium is the establishment of 243-year old Edward Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), an avid shoe-wearer who has a excellent wit about him, but nary a care in the world for receipts and bookkeeping. Hence, when he realizes his time to leave this earth has come and decides to leave the store to the 'manager in training' Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman), the composer, he has to hire an accountant to get the paperwork in order.
"… neither the store nor the characters are all that magical…a major problem with this meandering, cotton candy-like film."
An agency sends over Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) affectionately known as 'the mutant' to assist. Poor Henry doesn't believe in magic, but he does discover no instances of any taxes ever having been paid nor. Likewise, poor Molly doesn't believe she's got the magic necessary to keep up the store after Mr. Magorium's planned departure. The toy store itself is not too pleased with the potential departure either, and it begins to show its delicate temperament in dramatic fashion by making the toys go haywire and deleting all color. The challenge then becomes finding a way to make everyone happy and capable of realizing his or her dreams.
The downfall of it all is not that the story has no villain, that's actually kind of refreshing. Rather, neither the store nor the characters are all that magical which stands out as a major problem with this meandering, cotton candy-like (looks like a lot more substance than it is) film. For supposedly being so magical, the store is filled with a lot of toys that don't seem much more fantastical than ones routinely available at what really is the world's most magical toy store, FAO Schwarz. Whether Zach Helm's idea or the marketing department's to tie in the concept of the 'classic toys' from the past doesn't help in this 'most magical' notion. The characters, especially Mr. Magorium, are more mysterious than magical or wondrous. At one point, Mr. Magorium gives Molly a block of wood and explains that it is the key to all her understanding. He's correct, of course, but shouldn't it have dawned on someone there was a problem when the film's most significant icon is just that a simple block of wood? As for the characters, each is missing a piece of something. Eric is missing friends, Henry a life outside of work, Molly confidence in herself, and Magorium a reason to keep on living—Mahoney tries to cure of that by planning the most fun day ever for him.
"As a director, Zach Helm shows tremendous promise (writer too)…
He gives her the block of wood. Eric writes "Hi" on a legal pad to try to draw out Henry, who then returns the favor with a visit to see his hat collection that draws the scrutiny of him mother in a particularly icky scene where Ellie Applebaum (Rebecca Northan) returns from work to find her son playing puppets with an unfamiliar adult male in his bedroom. In any case, there is an overly contrived nature to the story made worse in that the themes in play about self-doubt and life-long happiness are probably a bit too lofty for the age group at which the film is pitched. Had the film been set anywhere else, it would have held no obvious appeal for children at all. While the actors are up to their roles, their roles lack the depth of development to require them. This is all very odd coming from the writer who delivered one of 2006's most unsung dark comedies,
Stranger than Fiction, which was leaps and bounds more brilliant, comedic, and engaging. There are shades of Roald Dahl in Zach Helm that some might find delicious as he does find ways to add that slightly disturbing element to the mundane, child-like occasion. As a director, Zach Helm shows tremendous promise (writer too), just perhaps not so much in the area of children's entertainment. Children tend to like more zaniness, a faster pace, more fantastic things that can captivate and sustain their interest for longer than 20 minutes.
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Other Projects Featuring Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
Cast Members
Ted Ludzik • Natalie Portman • Zach Mills
Dustin Hoffman • Jason Bateman • Rebecca Northan
Director
Zach Helm
Writer
Zach HelmPrequel
| Novelization
| Paper Airplane Book
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Nostalgic Toys
| Lego® Set
| CD Soundtrack
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Review-lite
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) [max of 150 words]
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the film as well as the store, lacks the right stuff to really sustain interest let alone entertain young let alone adult audiences. This is odd considering the writer / director, Zach Helm, delivered 2006's most unsung dark comedy, Stranger than Fiction. In any case, despite a worthy cast including Dustin Hoffamn and Natalie Portman, the character development lacked the depth required by the actors' skills. Eventually, leaving too little to enjoy other than the toys which often failed to be more magical than things one really might be able to find at FAO Schwarz.
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