Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a magical story about a young woman named Molly who inherits a mysterious toy shop that reminds me of the toy shop Duncan's Toy Chest from Home Alone 2.

Directed by Zach Helm, the film has a colorful cast, with Dustin Hoffman as the eccentric 243-year-old Mr. Magorium, Zach Mills as Eric, Natalie Portman as his talented but uncertain store manager slash apprentice Molly, Ted Ludzik as Bellini, the Bookbuilder and Jason Bateman as a skeptical mutant, Henry.

The movie has a clear message about the wonder of existence, the inescapable fact of death, and how we reconcile these two contrasting realities.

The cartoonish circus gadgets and décor set an aesthetic or vibe that I like, blending surrealism and absurdism. The acting and casting are good overall. The plot itself is fairly straightforward when you break it down, its decent but a bit corny, and it can feel slow and cringey at times. Natalie Portman looks great with short hair. Some scenes could definitely have been cut out, but the farewell scene was well done. Overall, it's a creative and interesting movie.