Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3257 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-05-12
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 91 minutes

Synopsis
In writer-director Zach Helm's whimsical 2007 film, MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM, veteran actor Dustin Hoffman plays the title character, a 243-year-old toy-store owner who is ready to pass his enchanted business on to his beloved assistant, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). However, when Molly, a former composer and pianist, has doubts about taking over the (literally) magical store, and an uptight accountant (Jason Bateman) appears to assess the establishment, the many inhabitants of the Wonder Emporium begin to rebel, resulting in a chaotic situation that can be fixed only with the help of a shy, lonely boy (Zach Mills).


A first-time director best known for his inventive STRANGER THAN FICTION screenplay, Helm ably--ahem--helms EMPORIUM, which clearly nods to the WONKA and TOY STORY movies without seeming derivative. Always one to dive gamely into a quirky role (see TOOTSIE, RAIN MAN, HOOK, etc.), Hoffman makes Magorium both silly and endearing, while Portman charms as his earnest protege, and Bateman provides an enjoyable level of scepticism while enduring the nickname 'The Mutant.' Although the film's playful quality could veer toward excess, its thoughtful script and able actors allow it to stand out as a highly entertaining production.

Customer Reviews

Magical! Fantastic family viewing.
Mr Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) is an ageing toy shop owner, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) his dependable assistant and Eric (Zach Mills) his number one customer.
When Mr Magorium announces he's leaving and Molly refuses his offer of taking on the toy shop, the toy shop gets depressed, in fact it gets angry. It starts to lose its magic, it loses its colour and the walls start to bubble. Meanwhile Magorium hires a mutant (his word for accountant) to assess the value of the business and then puts the shop up for sale. It is Eric, the boy, who notices the shop's problems and is determined to save the shop.
I don't want to say anymore, I don't want to spoil it for you, but what I can say is that this is a fantastic family film. Children will enjoy the colourful magical quality of the film and the amazing things that happen in the shop. Adults will appreciate the philosophy behind the film, being true to yourself and finding time to play and appreciate life. The mutant, Henry, is challenged by Eric. Eric wants to play but Henry doesn't have time, he's got to work - as a parent this challenged me and made me stop and think. I guess that we all need to take time to smell the roses!
Great viewing and it's a film you'll want to watch over and over.

Colourful family movie that brings out the child in you!
A voyage into the colourful and magical world of fun. Dustin Hoffman plays the slightly eccentric, happy go lucky Mr Magorium - an avid magical toy shop owner who's on the verge of leaving the world and sets upon a journey to hand over his shop to Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman) - the musical child genius who's stuck at a cross roads of life.

Hoffmans' performance is elegant in a sweet ditsy kind of way. Portman's role is a confused, but yet again sweet in nature and innocence.

It's a wonderful family movie that raises the imagination and takes you back to how it must feel to be a child. Even though the overall purpose has the essence of sadness, the movie in itself is a bubble of hope and joy. It's not a movie to take seriously, but will no doubt make you laugh especially with a cameo appearance of a famous Muppet character

"the germinating seed of inspiration"
Perception is everything in this world. The story of Mr. Magorium is partly one of the archetypal American legend who inspired a generation to carry on dreaming. It is significant that Kermit makes an appearance in the film as Jim Henson was one such figure who may well, have inspired the films philosophy. Few men of his generation were so influential to the children of the world and these men like Magorium set an example not by what they said so much but by what they did with their lives. Inspiration reverberates for generations and the wisdom which comes from that inspiration will hopefully always lead us towards the lights until ultimately we have a legacy like Magorium's to pass on. This idea of finding faith in past childhood wisdom in order to regain direction in ones life is largely the journey Molly Mahoney must grasp in the film until she understands the strength of her perception and how she can do some good in this world.

This film was an unexpected highlight over the holiday period. My whole family enjoyed it and will be one for the collection when it finally comes out. The cast performances, as you might expect are a class act and the story was very heartening. I strongly recommend this film and I'd say, pay no attention to superficial comparisons to the Wonka movie!