Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is rated G:

Sandwiched between steel and concrete office towers is an ornate, enchanted little shop known as Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Inside, the store is literally alive with magical toys and mysterious rooms full of trains, bouncing balls and other interactive playthings.

The business is run by Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), an eccentric, wildly-coiffed senior who lives in an upstairs' apartment with a pet zebra. Under this proprietor's watchful eye the merchandise wakes up every morning to the ring of the cash register. The shop is a bright spot not only for neighborhood families but also for a shy, young boy (Zach Mills) who spends his extra time working behind the counter.

But after living nearly 243 years, Mr. Magorium is ready to move to the next dimension. He plans to bequeath the shop to his young manager, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). The promising pianist has worked in the store for years but suffers from a seemingly unconquerable distrust of her own talents. Overwhelmed by the generous offer and insecure about her abilities to generate the lively atmosphere of the store, she anxiously frets about a future without her peculiar mentor.

Before going, however, Mr. Magorium hires an accountant to put in order centuries of receipts and sort out his affairs. Armed with a briefcase, Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) arrives at the storefront on a busy afternoon without an ounce of humor in his bones. He is even more somber when he finds the stacks and stacks of paperwork packed in the backroom office. Hunkering down to root through the dusty old papers, he's unresponsive to Molly's jokes and is oblivious to the enchantment happening all around him.

While this story is full of kites, finger paint and animated toys, the script, more than engaging kids, may speak to adults who've shelved their youthful dreams. The gentle pace of the movie may also lose viewers used to nerve-jarring cartoons or rapid-fire video games. Still, for those willing to settle in for a quiet but engaging thinker, the Emporium offers playful advice on rekindling a childlike enthusiasm for life and believing in the possibilities within every person.

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox.

Although this movie takes place in a toy store, in many ways it is an adult story about regaining childhood dreams and believing in oneself. Moving at a gentle pace, the film has few content issues aside from a brief mild profanity and some moments of peril in the toy store. The biggest concern for parents may be the discussion of impending death and the idea of reincarnation.

In what ways do adults lose their childhood dreams? How does Mr. Magorium remain engaged in life? How does his attitude toward life affect his attitude toward death?

What significance does the block of wood have? How can others help us achieve the greatness within?

What value does playing have in the lives of children and adults?

Like this film, Toy Story and the sequel Toy Story 2 uses the playthings within a child’s room as characters . Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory introduces a magical world of sweets and treats located inside a candy factory. Actor Dustin Hoffman stars as a nautical scoundrel in the movie Hook —another tale about rekindling childhood imagination.

DVD Release Date: 4 March 2008

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium comes to DVD (in both widescreen and full screen versions) with a whole toy chest full of bonus extras. Go behind the scenes with Strangely Weird and Weirdly Strange: The Magical World of a Wonder Emporium, which features An Eccentric Boss and an Awkward Apprentice, To Find Eric Applebaum- Start by Saying Hi, A Magical Toy Store, and The Big Book of Toys. Movie trailers and a Paper Airplane Tutor DVD-ROM game are also included. Audio tracks are available in English (5.1 Dolby Digital), as well as Spanish and French (Dolby Digital Surround), with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.