Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)

The young apprentice of a magical, eccentric toy store owner learns to believe in herself, and in her friends, upon learning some grave news about the future.

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 | genius | toymaker | whimsical | inventor | 

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Taglines:

If you don't believe . . . You will.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

A pay-per-view version of this movie appeared in Brüno (2009). Brüno (Sacha Baron Cohen) was telling the hotel management that he refused to pay for "Mr. Magorium's Wunderbar Emporium", which was the result of an errant fart onto the hotel remote.

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Goofs

While in the hospital, Molly and Henry are talking in the hallway while Eric is in the background rolling back and forth on his 'wheelie' shoes. Henry begins to walk away from the camera as Molly takes a seat at the front right of the frame, he pauses and beyond him at 47:24 Eric starts to roll from the right side of the hall to the left as Henry starts to turn around. At 47:25 when Eric has rolled about halfway across the hall from right to left, the shot cuts to a narrower shot of only Henry with Eric beyond him where Eric is on the left side of the hall starting to roll to the right side.

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Quotes

Henry Weston: You have a tenant living in your basement?
Mr. Edward Magorium: He was born there, I can't very well ask him to leave.

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Crazy Credits

During the credits many animated items move across the screen e.g. paper aeroplane, fish, and a bee (Mr Magorium said he might come back as a bee).

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Connections

Referenced in Frank TV: Money in the Frank (2007)

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Soundtracks

Jennifer Juniper
Written by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)

User Reviews

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")

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,630,085, 18 November 2007

Gross USA:

$32,061,555

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