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Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium More at IMDbPro »

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118 reviews in total

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121 out of 179 people found the following review useful:
MOMS: Great movie, but toddlers and husbands will be bored, 19 November 2007

Author: DaynaSu from New Hampshire

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.

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104 out of 150 people found the following review useful:
The only review you need to read, 7 March 2008

Author: kickboxgrrl from Seattle, WA, USA

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?

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83 out of 124 people found the following review useful:
Really enjoyed this movie!, 17 November 2007

Author: archangel1022 from United States

I took my family to watch this movie, and really enjoyed it! My three year old was captivated throughout the movie as was my 10 year old daughter. I thought Justin Bateman did a great job with his character and the Special effects were top notch. Of course the story was fantastical, but I go to see these movies to escape reality for awhile, and this is a great one to share with the family. I had read some negative reviews prior to seeing the movie, but I decided to see it for myself. After seeing the movie, I feel that some of the previous reviews I read were unfair and in some cases a little mean spirited and thus not really helpful. Lastly, while watching the movie, I noted that many people were laughing and making joyful comments at some of the details they were noticing, and, the audience applauded at the end.

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73 out of 111 people found the following review useful:
An Actual Kid's Movie, 18 November 2007

Author: Spaxtersback from United States

I'm not sure I've quite seen anything like it in about two decades... an actual kids movie. Not a part kids movie, part something for the adults, something for the teens. It just tries to do one thing and be what it is. There's nothing questionable about it. It doesn't try to be current or trendy, which is why this movie is bound to be timeless. The casting is perfect. It is like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory only without Roald Dahl's childhood trauma created creepiness seeping in.

The story follows a small cast characters and how their lives come together and change each other for the better. There is the owner of the shop who claims to be over 200 yrs old and owns a pet zebra. There is the young shop manager who was a music prodigy as a child but now feels she is not living up to her own potential. There is the mutant... I mean, accountant, who only see's the world as it really is. Finally there is the boy with lots of hats, but no friends. They are bound together by the shop, who is just as much a character (in every since of the word as they are.)

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51 out of 83 people found the following review useful:
Magical, 17 November 2007

Author: GodsButterfly from United States

I had seen a preview or two and the occasional poster for this movie, but hadn't really been dying to see it. Once I did see it, I was amazed. This is a great movie! I left the theater wanting to see it again! Not everyone will like this movie, if you're boring, only amused by perverted jokes, or forgotten what it's like to be a kid, this movie is not for you. I had a huge smile on my face for the majority of this wonderful story. It's simply innocent and good and silly. Dustin Hoffman was magical, and perfect for this role. Natalie Portman did a great job of showing her attachment to her dear friend, she didn't want him to leave, though deep down, she knew he had lived every moment to it's fullest. This was the first time I'd seen Zach Mills, he has very pleasant charicteristics to his personality and expressions. Very cute kid. I called all my friends afterwords and told them they absolutely had to see this movie. I highly recommend this movie... it made me sparkle.

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46 out of 74 people found the following review useful:
A delightful and gentle movie for a family outing., 18 November 2007

Author: anniecat50 from United States

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a delightful and gentle movie for a family outing. This probably won't win any industry awards -- except for the outstanding graphics in the credits-- but it will touch a few hearts.

Reminders of how precious and magical life is and the frequent use of up beat idioms encompass most of Dustin Hoffman's dialogue. The chemistry between the cast is engaging, so much so that all the "walk on" roles seem to interrupt the more important moments for the principal actors. The ending/beginning is a bit abrupt. The characters of Bellini, the Bookbuilder and Eric's mother make you really wonder what they add to the story because you know somewhere in the script they have to have more depth. They get lost here.

If you have even the remotest curmudgeon leanings in your personality and scoff at sentimental movies, stay away from this film. If you still love the holidays and see magic in snowfalls and sunsets, enjoy!

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61 out of 107 people found the following review useful:
NOT just for kids! I was uplifted, and found my own SPARKLE!, 20 November 2007

Author: bopdog from Was UK Now US

I expected a "kid" movie. And an insipid one at that. Treacly and dumb. So why did I go? Well, I'd seen everything else, and I really like Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. I like Jason Bateman, too. So I took a chance. And it was really GOOD! True, kids will like this movie. But the theme of belief in one's self, and "possibilities," and all that metaphysical stuff appeals to me. Granted, the story line was about a toy store, but the real story underneath that, and which came shining through the juvenile aspects, was one of TRUE magic and possibility for all of us. The cast played their parts well, and the mechanics of the movie were good--- nice colours, nice sets. The animation, or puppets, or whatever the moving toys were, was believable.

At one point, Natalie Portman asks Jason Bateman if he sees "sparkle" in her. He has to say "no." But later, after the plot unfolds, admittedly predictably, the sparkle finally shows up. It showed up in me, too! The SPARKLE was there throughout the movie.

Whether you have kids or not, if you are in the mood for something light yet meaningful, check this out. It has the wonder of a Harry Potter movie, without the vapid and stupid plot of those films. This movie is brave enough to be simple, and true enough to be.... well, true. I feel better having sen it. And that's a worthy accomplishment for ANY movie!

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27 out of 45 people found the following review useful:
Finally, a film for kids, 28 December 2007

Author: intelearts from the big screen

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.

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27 out of 50 people found the following review useful:
Two heavyweights as light entertainment, 12 November 2007

Author: Joejoesan from Amsterdam, The Netherlands

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

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.

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4 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Magic without boundaries equals visual effects without heart..., 25 July 2010

Author: moonspinner55 from las vegas, nv

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 utterly ridiculous? The filmmaker is so concentrated on the visual accouterments (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 sub-plot 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 ****

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