A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Date Viewed: 11/18/07

Details:

Natalie Portman (Molly Mahoney, the Composer)

Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Edward Magorium, Avid Shoe-Wearer)

Jason Bateman (Henry Weston, the Mutant)

Zach Mills (Eric Applebaum, the Hat Collector & Narrator)

Written & directed by: Zach Helm

Score: 0

The Review: Not overly long. For the young and non-diabetic young at heart.

For me, both Hoffman and Portman have become must-watch actors. Hoffman has stretched the envelope so many times that it's fun to see what oddity he will try next; playing a 243 year-old magic toy store proprietor who once outfitted Napoleon's nursery, was not an obvious next step. He's more brain-damaged than iconic, however, and this will not be a well-remembered role. Portman is stretching into a variety of roles as she gains experience; but in this role, she seems to have overreached waifish, approaching emaciation. This will not help her resume.

When you choose to view what is obviously intended as a contemporary fantasy, you're expected to exercise a certain suspension of disbelief. It's not too hard, in this case. The toy store is fun; the kids are obviously having fun; and there are puzzles -- like the odd discoloration at the back of the store, or the mystery of the Congreve cube. Not terminally cute, but predictable and filled with those "awwwwh" moments -- they seemed to be programmed at regular intervals, and the audience when I watched it seemed more than willing to comply with the vocal accompaniment.

With the lead-in about Mahoney's prodigal musicianship, the anticipation of Mahoney's "1st" is excellent misdirection. Short cameo by Kermit the Frog.

Excellent approach to end credits (seen also in the IMDb on-line version) -- not requiring a deep name memory for the individual characters (much appreciated as my name memory has never been good), and also providing curious explanations for what happens when making a movie.

(18-Nov-07)

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