Review of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) by Jean-Francois V — 29 Nov 2011

"Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium" is a likable film, a film which does its best to be liked. Its four main characters are a midly autistic boy who longs for company; a tomboyish Natalie Portman who longs to sparkle and finish her piano concerto; an all-work-and-no-play accountant who longs to get in touch with his inner child; and the eponymous Mr Magorium (Dustin Hoffman wearing an Einstein wig, Rowan Williams eyebrows and colourful ties, walking in quick little steps like every cute elderly fantasy character) longing to go to "Heaven, Elysium, Shangri-La", whatever, let's not sound too rabidly Christian.

The film has everything you need for the Christmas season: lots of really cool toys, most of them flying in the air in CGI (that's magic, and because it involves movement, it keeps the attentional centers of your brain awake), bright colours, tinkling stars, smiling faces, bouncing balls, dancing feet, a zebra, a lemur, a hat collection and a hose with a nozzle. It is also a feel-good film, with lots of New Age advice about believing in the only person Hollywood says can save you.

I did enjoy it, but with the slight feeling that I had been had with the oldest tricks in the book.