Mr. Magoogoo

Mr. Magoogoo‘s Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
In theatres now

by Marko Domazet

Loose Lips like Dustin Hoffman. He’s fun, seems compassionate and has the kind of nose ladies would like to sit on for hours and hours. That’s why it pains me to see Mr. Hoffman being reduced to playing the same type of character over and over again. Meet the Fockers, Perfume, and now wannabe-Willy-Wonka Mr. Magoogoo.

The film, that’s actually called Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (sounds like a perfume made by Elizabeth Taylor in her crazy days), tells the story of a magic toy store whose owner has decided to retire… and that’s kind of it. Sure, there are a few thin subplots like the one about the lonely kid that spends all of his time in the store, or the rigid accountant that starts working for Mr. Magorium, but they’re far too thinly spread to bring any substance to the film. At least Jason Bateman gets some face time as the accountant and we all like a bit of eye candy, even when it’s someone old enough to be a hot father figure. What else? Oh yes, there’s also Natalie Portman, but she doesn’t really do that much in it other than whine. What a waste of such a fine young starlet.

Clearly, we have another Christmas film on our hands, but I wouldn’t recommend this one. I was quite bored, the kids in the cinema didn’t seem too excited and you know a film ain’t worth £10 when the highlight of the screening is having Joanna yell at me ‘who’s your Daddy?’ on our way out of the cinema.

Pass.