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July 24, 2008 11:04:46 PM CDT

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Emporium Short on Wonder

Posted Nov 16, 07 12:58 PM CST in Gossip,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium might be less than magical for grown-ups, critics of the whimsical family flick agree. Dustin Hoffman stars as the eponymous eccentric who bequeathes a magical living toy store to reluctant protégé Natalie Portman in a film that "sprinkles in charming moments but ultimately doesn't evoke enough wonderment," writes Variety's Brian Lowry.

"There isn't anything terribly exciting or original on offer in the somewhat poky directing debut of screenwriter Zach Helm,"  says Lou Lumenick for the New York Post. "The idea of a toy store as a living, responsive being is a good one," says Scott Tobias of The Onion A.V. Club, "but Helm doesn't take that idea to imaginative places."

Sources Metacritic, New York Post, Variety, The Onion (A.V. Club)

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Dustin Hoffman stars alongside Natalie Portman as the eponymous 243 year old toy store owner in the relentlessly whimsical children's film.   (© 20th Century Fox)
This photo provided by Fox Walden shows Dustin Hoffman, left, and Natalie Portman in a scene from "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium." (AP Photo/Fox Walden)   (Associated Press)
Actors Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman attend the world premiere of "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" at the DGA Theatre, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)   (Associated Press)
From left, actors Dustin Hoffman, Zach Mills, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman attend the world premiere of "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" at the DGA Theatre, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007 in New York. (AP...   (Associated Press)
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New Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (HQ Trailer)   (AniphicProductionz (YouTube))

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movie  • movie review  • Natalie Portman  • Dustin Hoffman


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