Feel-Good Movie

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is the story of Molly Mahoney, who inherits the emporium, a magical toy store, from her eccentric 243 year old boss who is “leaving.” Upon his departure, the store has a temper tantrum and Mahoney finds herself in a slump.

The story of Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is Mahoney’s journey to find herself and discover whether she can muster up enough magic to replace Magorium. With the help of Eric, a precocious odd-ball 12 year old and Henry, a straight-laced accountant hired by Magorium to appraise the store, one is drawn into the quirky world of the emporium.

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is delightfully lighthearted but is simultaneously able to convey profound thoughts on death and the way we live while we are here.

Dustin Hoffman, as Mr. Magorium, delivered a stellar performance. His character is eccentric and loveable; think, if Keith Richards were Santa. His performance was invaluable to the film.

Natalie Portman as Molly Mahoney was also good, but in a type-cast role. The idea of her playing a twenty-something year old trying to find herself and discover her inner child is too predictable, especially for this film. Her character was undeveloped and became a bore to watch. On the other hand, Zach Mills, a newcomer to tinsel town, was adorable as Eric.

Dustin Hoffman was the most valuable asset to this film because the story was particularly trite. It is as though writer and director Zach Elms watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory one too many times and decided to replace the chocolate with toys.

The only aspect that really sets it apart is Mr. Magorium’s unique perspective and confrontation with death, what he calls “leaving.” Mr. Magorium is able to achieve the simultaneously hardest and easiest task of all: he is able to be himself in his final hour.

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is a great feel-good movie, though perhaps not a classic. It is a great cross-generational film for this holiday season and under its mediocre story line, it carries a sweet message.