5 /10

Warning: Spoilers

Mr. M's Magic store is on the brink of disaster when its faithless manager can't seem to muster the belief in herself necessary to keep the store's spirits and magic alive. Unfortunately, the movie as whole suffers from the same affliction. There were too many plot elements that didn't hold together and too many moments that go unexplained, distracting the viewer from the charming characters and promising premise. The store is magical and exciting, and great fun to explore throughout the movie. But the movie's special effects didn't cast enough magic to save this movie from itself.



The movie begins with a voice-over narration by the character Eric, a friendless boy who either a) hangs out at the toy store behaving strangely and freaking out the other kids, or b) provides 'wise' advice to his friend Mahoney, the beautiful store manager. We're also introduced to Bellini, and told that the story is his because he's keeping track of Mr. M's life. But then we never really see Bellini again....and if it's HIS story, why wasn't he narrating? Distracting!!!



And then who is this kid Eric? What is he doing in this picture? And why is HE telling the story? We never really find out. Eric ends up sticking out like a sore thumb, with no real connection to the story or a satisfactory resolution to his own struggle to find an age appropriate friend. There is one particularly disturbing scene, where Eric brings home the store's accountant (played by Jason Bateman) to see his hat collection, and the pair are caught playing pretend in his room by his mother. For a children's movie, that scene was just too weird, and failed to connect properly to the rest of the story.



Mahoney, played by the lovely Natalie Portman, is a character that doesn't quite fit in with this movie either. Supposedly a severe doubter and faithless incompetent, Mahoney actually comes across as merely stuck, but otherwise capable. The character is very flat, as the only thing we really learn about her is that she is pretty good on piano, but doesn't know how to finish her first concerto. Her relationship with Eric is never fully explored and her connection with Jason Bateman's character is oddly absent until very near the end of the story. The primary conflict, her fear about running the store, is flawed. There is no clear evidence that Mahoney couldn't run the toy store Mr. M leaves to her, as we've watched 80% of the movie with her doing just that, so the main struggle of the film just isn't that convincing nor seem that difficult to overcome.



One of the most distracting plot elements is this stupid block of wood that Mr. M gives Mahoney near the beginning of the story. In the end it plays a key role in the movie, but it's never adequately explained how or why. Why a block of wood? What's the connection with Portman's character? What is a congreve cube? How is a kid supposed to understand all this?



Dustin Hoffman's Mr. M was convincingly played, but I found his speech impediment a barrier to understanding him, and wasn't sure why Mr. Hoffman made that choice. Perhaps to appear more childlike? At a critical point in the movie, Mr. M announces to Mahoney that he is going to leave that day, but doesn't follow through on his promise. Instead of creating the crisis of faith his absence should have created, the movie drags out his departure. Mahoney drags Mr. M all over town and then eventually to a hospital, where he's admitted and spends the night, just to get up and leave the next day. What? If the scene was meant to show Mahoney's compassion for Mr. M it failed to do so. If it was supposed to create sadness for the audience, it also failed. I couldn't wait for him to finally go!!! Why are we dragging this out people???



There are many, many questions with this movie: Is the accountant in love with Mahoney? Is he a pedophile? Does Mahoney believe in magic or doesn't she? Who is Mr. Magorium? Where does he come from and what's his deal? Who is Eric and why is he being treated like one of the staff one minute and then an arm's length stranger the next? Mahoney seems to believe in magic, 'cause she's doing it, but then she doesn't because why?



Fundamentally this movie is well-intentioned, but not thoughtful enough to hold together and to be more than an out of control mess.