MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM

Director: Zach Helm
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Zach Mills
Year: 2007
Rating: G

Mr. Magorium is a Willy Wonka-like man of 243, who runs what's undeniably the coolest toy store in the world. The place fairly runs itself using magic, and both employees and customers alike not only seem to know this - but accept it as part of their every day world. It's a small, wondrous toy shop, the kind that just doesn't exist in a world of Toys "R" Us and Wal-mart - Magorium's story looks as if it were painted in pure crayolas, the atmosphere light and airy and full of nothing but fun. The owner, the magical and upbeat Mr. Magorium himself (Dustin Hoffman, as always flawless in the role), is a kooky-looking man in colorful suit who manages to say a whole lot of nothing but at the same time make a world of sense. His world is about joy, fun, and celebrating the "sparkle" of childhood that exists in us all.

Natalie Portman plays Molly Mahoney, a child protegee on the piano who, as an adult, never seems to have lived up to her potential musically. In the toy store, she's the manage of the whole place, and is as seemingly sure-footed as if the store were her own. As the film opens and Molly comes to work, she's learned from her boss that Mr. Magorium is in the process of hiring an accountant to get his books in order - something he's never done before. This, among other strange events (including a temper tantrum that the store throws, when it gets wind of the news too), leads to Molly learning that Mr. Magorium is leaving. Leaving and giving her the store. At first shocked that Mr. Magorium is retiring, Molly is even more upset to ifnd out that Magorium's departure isn't from the working life ... but from life, period. It's his time, Mr. Magorium tells her - his time to go. And he wants her to have the store.

This is a cute, charming film about finding the kid in yourself again. Hoffman turns in a performance that makes Mr. Magorium truly loveable, when in the hands of another actor he could have maybe come off just goofy and maybe even annoying. Portman is radiant as Molly, though I thought her work in the film was much weaker in the second half than the first (in fact, the whole film sort of loses something once Hoffman isn't on the screen). Jason Bateman is the perfect straight man as "Mutant" the accountant - and has a sweet, touching scene with young actor Zach Mills (who plays Eric, a friendless kid who works in the store, and see Magorium as his hero), where the two communicate an entire scene through a pane of glass that separates them.

I liked the film - loved Hoffman IN the film - but to me, the last half-hour or so just didn't take off too much for me; the ending somewhat left me just wanting ... more. The special effects are brilliant, the toy store is nothing short of amazing, and there's a lot of kindness and wonderment in the film ... but it just didn't click for me at the end. I compared Magorium to Willy Wonka early in this review, but in all honesty Mr. Magorium has none of the creepiness or disturbed sort of feel about him that Wonka has; as I've said before, Mr. Magorium is loveable, his shop a dreamworld for any child.

Children will indeed enjoy this film, too - and they could do a lot worse than getting the message of acceptance and love and always seeing the positive side. In fact, this is the first kid-friendly film I've seen in years that doesn't have a touch of darkness or danger or even negativity about it. That alone makes it worth seeing. I guess I just wish the last thirty minutes had lived up to the first sixty. **1/2 - Reel Mediocre-Reel Cool