Review of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) by Heather H — 27 Jun 2010

Most people will probably go into this film expecting a whimsical fantasy similar perhaps to 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' and other such films. This film *is* that, but it also works on a much deeper level, as an exploration not only of simple wonderment but, unexpectedly, of the reality and inevitability of death.

What makes this film so successful is that, it still manages to maintain a believable level of whimsicality while still holding that its themes are serious stuff. This is one of the movies that, like Pixar's 'Up,' show the reader that growing old (and approaching death) is not doomed to tragic ends, but rather the promise of new adventure (or other positivities).

The casting here deserves note. Dustin Hoffman is endearingly stellar in his role as Mr. Magorium, and the unexpected casting of Natalie Portman as the quietly talented musician/store manager Molly Mahoney also works refreshingly well.

If it suffers from any flaws, its major flaw is this: There is hardly any sense of conflict in this film. The viewer is never brought to worry about anything, even the impending death of a main character, made obvious from the very beginning.

But then again, for the purposes of this film, it might be that the viewer isn't *meant* to feel any worry. After all, said character doesn't worry about his death, and if the film aims to make death less frightening, more wondrous, why should the viewers worry at all?