Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

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.

Director:

Zach Helm

Writer:

Zach Helm

Stars:

Natalie Portman, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Bateman

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Molly Mahoney is the manager of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the awesome toy store owned by Mr. Edward Magorium. Molly was a promising composer and piano player when she was a girl, and now she is a twenty-three year-old insecure woman who feels stuck in her job. Among the costumers of the Emporium is the lonely hat collector, Eric Applebaum, who has only Molly and Mr. Magorium for friends. When the last pair of shoes that Mr. Magorium bought in Toscana is worn, he hires the accountant, Henry Weston to adjust the accounts of the Emporium. Furthermore, he claims that he is two hundred and forty-three years 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".

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Plot Keywords:

kermit the frog character | emporium | toy store | eccentric | piano | 

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Taglines:

You have to believe it to see it.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Films [France] Official site [Germany]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Loja Mágica de Brinquedos

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,630,085, 18 November 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$32,061,555, 13 March 2008

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$69,474,661

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandate Pictures, Walden Media, FilmColony

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally, it was depicted that Mr. Magorium's story, told in a series of journals, was coming to an end. Then, at the end of the film, the man writing the journals began a new journal for Molly Mahoney. Both of these scenes were cut, however.

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Goofs

The length of Natalie Portman's hair changes inconsistently throughout the movie. Dramatic differences can be noted during the hospital scene where in various shots it appears at both it's shortest and longest.

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Quotes

[from trailer]
[holds out her hand to a full shopping bag]
Molly Mahoney: Come on, get out of there!
[a blue ball flies out of the bag and into her hand]
Molly Mahoney: Bouncy balls. Always tryin' to escape.

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Crazy Credits

Near the end of the credits, Mr. Magorium appears painting a picture with a little boy watching him.

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Connections

Referenced in Breaking Bad: Granite State (2013)

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Soundtracks

Don't Be Shy
Written by Cat Stevens (as Yusuf Islam)
Performed by Cat Stevens
Courtesy of Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Finally, a film for kids

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.