Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium DVD Review

"Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium" reviews

DVD

Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-05-09 16:50:30

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

Dustin Hoffman plays the 243-year-old owner of a magical toy store in this whimsical family comedy which, on the whole, hits the right notes.

Hoffman's titular Mr Magorium is a bit of an oddball (who wouldn't be after two and a half centuries?) and it is unlikely any real-life parents would be happy to leave their kids in his charge - but hey, it's fantasy. And besides, his outfits and strange method-acting ticks soon become somehow endearing, if only because of the relief one feels that Robin Williams was not cast in the role.

Magorium's regular sidekicks are his store manager, Molly - played by a cute-as-a-basketful-of-kittens Natalie Portman - and regular customer and fellow-misfit Eric (Zach Mills). Molly wants to pursue a music career, but when her boss euphemistically decides it's time "to leave" and announces the store is hers, she is forced down a different path. Jason Bateman comes along as straight-laced accountant Henry and threatens to take the magic away. Needless to say, heartstrings are pulled and all ends well, with a bit of help from the contents of the store, which don't seem that happy with the idea of change...

This is not the greatest family film you will ever see, but it is certainly loveable.

Hoffman's turn as a kind-of Disney version of Prospero from Shakespeare's Tempest is affectionate and inventive, and Portman and Bateman's performances err on the fun side. Sure, there's plenty of moralising, but Mr Magorium stays just about on the right side of cheesy to make it enjoyable for kids and parents alike.

The DVD includes several making of featurettes, which is always fun for the special effects geeks out there.

Copyright © MRIB 2008.