This year's holiday fare is a little more colorful with Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the latest from director Zach Helm. Kids under 8, and maybe some kids at heart, will find its silliness and mild sentiment entertaining - who would’ve thought Mr. Magorium, the 243-year-old owner of a magical toy store, would sport a huge lisp?
At the Variety Screening Series last week, Helm, who describes Dustin Hoffman as "phenomenal," said his experience working with the actor on Stranger Than Fiction inspired his casting as Mr. Magorium. It was the right choice. Hoffman’s light quirkiness brings to life an eccentric and loveable character who could’ve easily been too creepy in a Willy Wonka gone wrong sort of way.
Natalie Portman, too, brings sweetness and charm to the role of Molly Mahoney, the manager of the emporium who’s in need of inspiration. Jason Bateman’s character, the no-nonsense accountant nicknamed "Mutant," provides a welcome contrast.
The magic of the movie really lies in the actors' talents, rather than the "wondrous emporium." The script garners occasional chuckles from some clever humor -- the store is a colorful place where stuffed animals long to be hugged, books spit out their contents, and children can play Duck, Duck, Goose with a real goose -- but mostly, this is an amusement made with the kids in mind...a lot like an actual toy store.
