Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

Director:

Zach Helm

Writer (WGA):

Zach Helm (written by)

Release Date:

16 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

You have to believe it to see it.

Plot:

Molly Mahoney is the awkward and insecure manager of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world. But when Mr. Magorium, the 243 year-old eccentric who owns the store, bequeaths the store to her, a dark and ominous change begins to take over the once remarkable Emporium.

Plot Keywords:

Toy Store | Accountant | Piano | Composer | Hat

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Dec. 25	8:15 AM	HBO
Tue. Dec. 29	2:15 PM	HBO

Cast

Ted Ludzik	...	Bellini, the Bookbuilder
Natalie Portman	...	Molly Mahoney, the Composer
Zach Mills	...	Eric Applebaum, the Hat Collector
Dustin Hoffman	...	Mr. Edward Magorium, Avid Shoe-Wearer
Madalena Brancatella	...	Jessica, Who Got a Cowboy Hat
Paula Boudreau	...	Brenda, Who Wants a Mobile
Mike Realba	...	Dave Wolf, Who's an Engineer
Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit the Frog (voice)
Liam Powley-Webster	...	Andy, the Boy Who Likes to Color
Marcia Bennett	...	Lora, Who Wants a Fire Engine
Jason Bateman	...	Henry Weston, the Mutant
Oliver Masuda	...	Jordan, Who Said Hi
Samantha Harvey	...	Cassie, the Girl Chased by a Goose
Jesse Bostick	...	Derek, Who Opened the Door
Isaac Durnford	...	Jason, Who's a Little Too Curious

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:G | UK:U | Ireland:G | South Africa:A | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Australia:G | Taiwan:GP | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG | Germany:o.Al. | South Korea:All | Hong Kong:I | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | New Zealand:G | Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:Btl | Finland:K-3 | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

FilmColony

Trivia:

Release prints were delivered to theaters with the fake title 'Magic Shop'.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Magorium states that "It takes Shakespeare, a genius, to come up with "He dies." The phrase "He dies" appears in the stage directions, not the text itself. In fact, William Shakespeare never wrote any stage directions, so he did not write "He dies." This, along with all the other stage directions in Shakespeare, was added by later editors.

Quotes:

Mr. Edward Magorium: I've been inventing toys since the 1770's.
Henry Weston: What, excuse me...
Mr. Edward Magorium: Yes?
Henry Weston: You say 1770's?
Mr. Edward Magorium: Yes, sir, so you can imagine accounting is a brand new concept to me.
Henry Weston: You know, that would make you at least 240 years old, sir.
Mr. Edward Magorium: You're already hired, mutant, there's no need to show off.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-11-17)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Don't Be Shy

Believe In Yourself and the Magic Happens

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")