Powerful

Don't listen to the negative reviews

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Stumbled upon this gem of a movie about four years ago. Since then. saw it about three more times and it's still as charming as it was the very first time. It's an acting tour de force of four actors. First and foremost - Dustin Hoffman who's as superb as always and a bit more as the magical Mr. Magorium. Then we get Natalie Portman, giving a touching performance as Molly Mahoney who's a grown up that has some growing up to do. Not less impressive is Jason Bateman, the one full representative of completely normal people in the film who as far as I'm concerned gives his best performance ever as the "Mutant" who's only way to connect with people is by sorting their paper work for them. And last but by no means least Zach Mills as Eric, the perfect counter point to Hoffman's Magorium - the kid who was born a grown up, but is still a kid. While Magorium is a sort of Peter Pan who did grow old but kept his young soul. You have to see the movie to see how the two struck the delicate balance both roles require.All the four are putting a stellar performance, but what really took me by surprise is the fact Zach Helm, the writer director of this wonderful movie Didn't direct any other feature film (only one more documentary) - what a waste of talent. Even his writing career is way too short. Hollywood is missing him big time. I've seen so many films dealing with the same issues that came out as a collection of cliché with tons of sugar coating. While his little masterpiece is clever, charming and original.As for the plot, in one sentence, its a story about life and death, about how growing up is never a question of age and about the magic of self-belief. If you ever get a chance - don't miss it.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) got terrible ratings and even its writer- director, Zachary Helm, has called it a train wreck. I do not believe the movie is a train wreck. It is rather like the four protagonists (four protagonists in a hundred minute movie is a big dancing elephant wearing red flags) all came to the same intersection at the same time from four different directions; and none of them would give the right of way. That might be okay if the story was about four characters playing chicken. But it's not. The movie is "set in a magical toy shop which affords adults the opportunity to retain a child's sense of magic and wonder in their lives, where a clerk must decide whether she wants to run the store after its current owner Mr. Magorium passes away."The store clerk, Mahoney (Natalie Portman), is the character whose journey drives the story all the way to its end. She is the true protagonist. Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is her antagonist and also the pivotal character. Eric (Zach Mills) the nine-year old Hat Collector, (whose one-note, negligent mother would be a lot more interesting if she recognized that he gets free day care at the Wonder Emporium) is magic helper number one. Henry/Mutant (Jason Bateman) is charmingly bumbling magic helper number two. The only character arc in the story that really pays off in the story is Mutant's - even though one magic helper in a story is usually enough. The biggest problem in the story is, briefly, Mahoney, doesn't know herself/her own potential yet and the writer doesn't give the audience enough hints, either. It's that simple. It just doesn't work for the audience not to discover Mahoney's potential until the moment she herself discovers it. However, the most important reason that I don't believe this movie is a train wreck is that foreshadowing of her self discovery (virtually nonexistent on Mahoney's journey in this movie) would have added "sparkle" (that's a spoiler) to the true protagonist of the movie. My guess is there's plenty of discarded footage or B-roll from which that foreshadowing could have come to be shown in the movie. The second most important reason I don't believe this movie is a train wreck is that making an extraneous magic helper (Mutant), who shouldn't even be likable, the most genuinely charming with sugar on it character in the movie without detracting from the through-line is impossible. Yet, that's exactly what happens here.

People who dislike this film miss the point of it, I think. It isn't a modern wry take on a children's movie, it is a children's story. But, if you just forget the idea that a kids movie should have jokes aimed at the adults, it's surprisingly good. Natalie Portman shows great acting chops, and is a great foil for Dustin Hoffman. The script and the cinematography is excellent, without any noticeable lags. And much of the story works very well on an adult level; ultimately we all have to find our spark; ultimately we all have to leave, at some point. I have used this film as an assignment for students in Careers class, because it helps them realize that the things that prepare us for one career over another are often very subtle and easy to miss. Much like this film, itself.

I saw the trailer and a couple of clips of this film while it was in cinemas, I could tell it was going to be one of those really bizarre and either love it or hate it kids' films, but I watched anyway. Basically Mr. Edward Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is the owner of an awesome and magical toy shop, the Wonder Emporium, and twenty three year old Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) is the manager, and being a promising composer she aspires to be a professional piano player, but she is stuck for inspiration because of working in the store. The store is a great success bringing happiness to children and adult customers alike, one customer includes lonely hat collector Eric Applebaum (Zach Mills) who only has Mr. Magorium and Molly for friends. Mr. Magorium is hiring accountant Henry Weston (Jason Bateman), who they nickname 'Mutant', to help adjust the accounts of the store and hopefully create better business, since the store magic is fading, and Mr. Magorium claims that at the age of two hundred and forty three years old it is his time to go, i.e. die. Before he plans to depart (the world) he gives Molly a wooden block called a Congreve cube, she asks him what it does, but he says that she will find within herself to work it out, but the store is fading to grey with his departure looming. Henry is one of those "just" people that sees everything as just what it is, with no imagination, he is just focused on helping the store make its business, and eventually the store completely fades the grey, Mr. Magorium dies and the store is put up for sale. In the end however Molly feels really passionate that anything can happen in the Wonder Emporium if Henry accepts that magic is real, and pointing to the block she knows it is not just a block, and soon enough it comes to life and brings magic back to the store, and Molly knows that the magic will live again if she becomes the new owner, and her music potential is restored as well. Also starring Ted Ludzik as Bellini, Jonathan Potts as Dr. Dunn, Marcia Bennett as Lora, Rebecca Northan as Ellie Applebaum, Oliver Masuda as Jordan, Samantha Harvey as Cassie and Steve Whitmire as Kermit the Frog. Portman is beautiful and sweet as the talented musician feeling held back but finding herself in the magic, Hoffman is alright as the eccentric lisping bonkers store owner, and Bateman is a little dull, the film does have some well meant sentiment, reasonable special effects and the kids watching will all be amazed and delighted, it wasn't all my cup of tea, but it is a pleasant enough adventure, a not bad but not great fantasy comedy drama. Okay!