Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3/4
"If you want to sing out"
itv_digital - wrote on 04/19/2008
Zach Helm has delivered a lovely little film that tonally and thematically sits in the dead centre of Willy Wonka and Harold and Maude. Whilst the quirky nature of the script coupled with an overly whacky performance from Dustin Hoffman may be off-putting to some, those who perservere will find much to enjoy.
Portman is dependably solid as the lead but it is Jason Bateman who, in an impressive supporting role, provides the films beating heart.
Magorium manages to be both a hyper-stylized aesthetic treat and yet also remains grounded in genuine emotion (not unlike Juno). The montage sequence set to "Don't Be Shy" provides as much inspiration, melancholy and glee in one scene as most directors do in entire careers.
The potential Zach Helm shows in this, his directorial debut, is …
Rating of
1/4
Uninvolving and unoriginal
newmans_own - wrote on 11/17/2007
Well, it’s been predicted that consumers may not be spending as much this holiday season. Not if MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM has anything to do with it. One of the most noticeable things about the film is its sheer amount of product placement in the titular toy store. There’s everything from Curious George books to Duplo blocks to Lego logs and everything in between. Unfortunately, the fact that these images are so present and memorable after the film indicates there is not much else worth remembering about it. And it’s true; aside from an annoyingly catching title and a few recognizable items, MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM is a mess of wannabe originality that seems all too familiar.
This is most evident, however, in Hoffman’s performance as the titular …
