Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Blu-ray) (2007)

"...very sweet--in fact it represents the dawn of a new sport, Extreme Whimsy.  Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
"...well made, and adults likely will find themselves yielding to its gentle, whimsical charm.  William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Editor's Note 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 protégé, and Bateman provides an enjoyable level of skepticism 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.

	Dustin Hoffman
	Jason Bateman
	Natalie Portman
	Ted Ludzik
	Aaron Zigman - Original Music By
	Alexandre Desplat - Original Music By
	Brandt Gordon - Art Director
	Joseph Drake - Executive Producer
	Richard N. Gladstein - Producer
	Roman Osin - Cinematographer
	Sabrina Plisco - Editor
	Steven Weisberg - Editor
	Therese DePrez - Production Designer
	Zach Helm - Director
	Zach Helm - Writer

USA Today
"[T]he film's dazzling production design is the highlight..." 11/16/2007 p.6E

New York Times
"[Mr. Hoffman] is engaging....The concept is ingenious..." 11/16/2007 p.E12

Empire
3 stars out of 5 -- "There are hints of Tim Burton, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Steven Spielberg on show..." 01/01/2008 p.66

Sight and Sound
"[With] a storming performance from Dustin Hoffman....Practically skipping with joie de vivre, Hoffman is intensely mannered yet utterly watchable." 02/01/2008 p.74

Chicago Sun-Times 8 of 10
All of this perhaps sounds like a wonderful family movie, and to a degree it is, although the story arcs involving Molly and the accountant and the threats to the store are all recycled from countless other films. The plot is forever being upstaged by the emporium. We want to stop worrying about Molly's self-esteem and just play with more neat stuff. And is there ever any real doubt that there will be a happy ending? None. It's just that everybody has to pretend there is...Hoffman has countless characters inside of him, and this is one of his nicest. Edward Magorium is very matter-of-fact about his great age, his astonishing store, and his decision that it is time to move on to the next life. He takes it all for granted. Portman, as Molly, doesn't think it's that simple, and she has the thankless task of holding out against the old man's certainty. The suspense, such as it is, will possibly enthrall kids up to a certain age, but their parents, once they get over the visual delights of the emporium, will be grateful the proceedings last only 93 minutes. That's about as long as this notion will carry us, or a little longer...This isn't quite the over-the-top fantasy you'd like it to be, but it's a charming enough little movie, and probably the younger you are, the more charming. - Roger Ebert