No doubt intended to be a Christmas blockbuster - this pretty looking film is ultimately all wrapping, with nothing much to find inside.
Comment
12/13/07
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007)
37
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:120
Fresh:44
Rotten:76
Average Rating:4.9/10
Consensus: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium's title is much more fun that the film itself, as the colorful visuals and talented players can't make up for a bland story.
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Genre: Childrens
US Box Office: $31,920,538
Synopsis: In writer-director Zach Helm's whimsical 2007 film, MR. MAGORIUM'S WONDER EMPORIUM, veteran actor Dustin Hoffman plays the title character, a 243-year-old toy-store owner who is ready to pass his... [More]
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman, Zach Mills
Director: Zach Helm
Reviews for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Too dark for kids, too daffy for grown-ups. There’s the odd glimmer of charm, but beneath the fluttering FX and existential fluster, Helm has buried the most important toy in the box: a good story.
12/13/07
Let’s not be too Scrooge-like; there are pockets of charm, and some of the effects are quite good.
12/13/07
Schmaltzy musical cues ensure we all get the message, but the desperately dull final third is likely to drive both kids and grown-ups to nose-picking, seat-kicking distraction.
12/13/07
Structurally it’s a bit ragtag, but, as your mum would say, it has its heart in the right place. For all its wilful oddness it’s enchanting, imaginative and genuinely moving.
12/13/07
Top Critic"Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" lacks sparkle and wonder.
12/12/07
People have told me they really liked it, so go for the score and sets, stay for when it finally grabs you: be prepared for an uphill climb to the intended transcendence.
12/10/07
This children's tale of magical whimsy miraculously avoids even toying with violence - while confronting the finality of death head-on.
12/06/07
With no playthings on the order of Buzz or Woody to enliven events, this proves to be one toy story that's easy to skip.
11/28/07
The world of children's literature continues to be raped by Hollywood and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is its latest victim.
11/26/07
A not so wonderful Emporium run by a shop owner who is best buddies with the Grim Reaper, toys with bad tempers, and a mysterious macho tenant living in the cellar who sleeps cuddling his doll.
11/24/07
Without ever being heavy-handed or sentimental, the film addresses issues of death, mourning, and "moving on" in a way that is appropriate and inspiring for kids of all ages. Call it a feel-good movie about death, if you will.
11/23/07
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium isn't the awful experience so many movie critics labeled it. Most of all, it's a pleasure to see the warm rapport Hoffman and Portman conjure in this sweet, short story.
11/23/07
It's a little sentimental, and the finale feels rushed, but along the way it's great fun.
11/22/07
I went in with no expectations for this and found myself caught up in the wonder of the emporium and the magic people can create around them, just by believing they can.
11/21/07
Whimsy is the worst thing a filmmaker can force on an audience. Magic is the second worst. Yet for 90 minutes writer-director Zach Helm shoves whimsy and magic down his audience's throat.
11/21/07
It's so 'G' you almost want to gag, but its heart is in the right place. Take a kid or take a pass.
11/21/07
A film of sufficient charm and largeness of heart that I don't hesitate to recommend it.
11/20/07
I realize that critics sound like imagination-hating asses when they bash a movie like this...
11/19/07
It’s so intent on being whimsical, so aware of its own whimsicality, that it ends up being not very whimsical at all.
11/19/07
Top CriticLatest News for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
March 03, 2008:
RT on DVD: Into the Wild, Things We Lost In The Fire, My Kid Could Paint That Arrive
Into the Wild, Sean Penn's lyrical adventure about a young idealist on a cross-country trek, leads new releases this week. More...
February 28, 2008:
Box Office Guru Preview: Semi-Pro Set To Slam Dunk The Competition
A triumvirate of films opens this weekend, but all will bow to the power of the mighty Will Ferrell and his latest outrageous comedy, Semi-Pro. More...
November 18, 2007:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Beowulf Rules As Overall Box Office Stalls
Paramount reigned supreme at the North American box office as its animated adventure tale Beowulf seized the number one spot in its opening weekend while the studio's other toon... More...
November 15, 2007:
A sugar-coated holiday fantasy about toys with major hangups, and the adults around them who are too busy with their own neurotic issues to dispense any TLC. 
More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds