Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) PG
Walden Takes Wonder to New Heights
Somewhere, somehow, someone beat, cajoled, mocked, or bullied the large proportion of the earth's inhabitants out of chasing their dreams.
And not only chasing their dreams. But even, dreaming their dreams. As if dreams of grand achievements, or great discoveries were somehow wrong. My dreamkiller was a Sunday-School teacher that I loved. She laughed at me right at the wrong moment. A little piece of me went cold that day.
But the funny thing is, every single person that has made a positive difference to this world - every single one - was a dreamchaser. And the story is always the same. The more they got told to give up, how impossible their desire was, the more they tried, spurred on not simply by their dream, but galvanized by their desire to prove their detractors wrong.
No doubt Michael Phelps had a Sunday-School teacher lurking somewhere, telling him how silly it was to dream of emulating, and then beating Mark Spitz' record.
Thankfully - although he did beat a couple of Aussies in the process, so I say this through gritted teeth - his dream remained bright, free of the tarnish of criticism that could so easily have sunk him.
And right now, the world needs dreamers. Visionaries. In our streets, in our neighborhoods, our schools, and most assuredly in our Governments. But alas, what we seem to have is a lot of Sunday-School teachers!
To get back in touch with our inner dreamer, I recommend viewing Walden Media's sterling Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. An enchanting and charming tale of said Mr. Magorium and his fantastical toy store was just the medicine to refresh within me that innocent belief that I could reach for higher heights, aspire to nobler climes.
Be warned though, most reviewers have dismissed this as some childish fantasy, as if that's a bad thing. That it's not for adults. How sad. I guess they are just some of our modern Sunday-School teachers. Rather, I say this is for every adult to watch. Sure, the kids can watch it too, but they might not get much more than some laughs at the cute action, the toys that become fully animate objects, and the store itself, often in hilarious and engaging ways. For me, it is the adults that will get the most from this well-crafted effort.
Maybe it was the disarmingly delightful performance from Dustin Hoffman, as the 242-year old Mr. Magorium. If you have lost interest in Mr. Hoffman after his recent work then get ready to appreciate him all over again. His grasp of the genial, sage that is the lead character lends an enormous amount to this picture. In short, he is magnificent.
His interaction with the other critical characters - Natalie Portman's Mahoney, Jason Bateman's drab accountant Henry Weston, and young Zach Mills as the 9 year-old narrator, Eric - carries Mr. Magorium to its heights, and is so vital in delivering the heart that is the core pleasure of this viewing experience.
And talking of Natalie Portman, she is just too delightful for words as Mahoney, Mr. Magorium's trusted shop assistant. A gifted talent in her own right, but with little self-confidence, Mahoney finds voice for her gifts, but only after her wise boss helps her step from his loving shadow into the light of her own greatness.
This process of discovery for Mahoney is the central plank of the conflict, and as such, the redeeming value of Mr. Magorium. The journey is certainly worth the effort, both for Mahoney, and the viewers. And in taking the journey, it is where I found that I didn’t need to listen to the Sunday-School teacher from decades back. That dreams are not the domain of children only, but the child within each of us - however deeply we have buried him or her.
Thanks to Mr. Magorium, I met that child again. All I can say now is, Michael Phelps, watch out!!
By Brett Stringer
