Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium Parent Guide

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 awakens 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 inconquerable 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 that should engage kids, the script may speak more 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 magical tale, the Emporium offers playful advice on rekindling a childlike enthusiasm for life and believing in the possibilities within every person.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes.