Stupid Zebra

This morning I watched Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium, and I really liked it.

I must admit that kids films very often move me. I love Elf with a passion, and there are certain kids movies that aren't even old enough to evoke memories that I thoroughly enjoy. I loved Monster House when I saw it, and there's rarely one that I don't enjoy. Stardust, if you could class it as a kids movie, was awesome. I have talked about how mint Kung Fu Panda is, and Pixar movies are on another level of enjoyment.

Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium is like Garden State for kids. It's so smiley, and lovely, and warm. It concerns Mr Magorium, Dustin Hoffman, and Molly Mahoney, Natalie Portman, and their magical toy shop. The story rotates around the store being passed on from Magorium's care into Mahoney's, but the store isn't happy about the change.

I don't understand how Zach Helm does it. After Stranger Than Fiction, an odd post-modern existential comedy, he goes on to write this fantastic childrens story, full of quirk and magic. It's full of little connections between the spoken and the seen, with dialogue based in simple riddle and rhyme. I sure hope he never makes a bad film.

The casting is rather good too. Dustin Hoffman is always good, without a doubt. Natalie Portman is fantastic at adapting from role to role, from comedy to drama, to kids movie. Jason Bateman plays Henry Weston, an accountant who fails to believe in the magic of the store, and he's good, I liked him in Juno and he's a really good well rounded character in this. First prize goes to Zach Mills, who plays 9-year-old Eric, and he's fantastic. I don't understand how he isn't 'that kid', you know, the one who is really good in one film then is in EVERYTHING. Like Jonathon Lipnicki, and Mara Wilson. I guess he got stumped by Freddie Highmore.

The story, I guess, is your typical kids movie story. It's about realisation of what you are, and what you can be, with hints of coming-of-age and struggling for acceptance. From Eric's struggle to make friends, and Molly's writers block, to Henry's lack of make-believe skills, it's got some nice little advances throughout. There is one scene in which Eric and Henry communicate by writing on pads through a window which is just marvellous. There is also a little section of Molly and Magorium having fun in several places around the town that is so pleasant, and rather hilarious. I shall never forgive Natalie Portman's terrible, out of time dancing though.

If you have an hour and twenty minutes on a Sunday, or you babysit children and need something to do, watch Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium. It's really nice, and enjoyable, and Dustin Hoffman is marvellous.

PS Did I forget to mention that KERMIT THE FROG is in it!?