I will admit to being surprised at how many people claimed that this lighthearted tale was a snoozer. If you or your children were bored, how sad for you. While this is not action-packed nor animated, it's filled with subtly delightful moments and a sense of whimsy. Unfortunately these qualities are lost on the those who are so conditioned for immediate gratification and messages that are as subtle as a flying brick. Well, too bad for you.

While far from a cinematic masterpiece, my family and I found this thoroughly enjoyable. Dustin Hoffman is a master at fully inhabiting a character and making you believe that he *is* that person. Portman was less than captivating, strangely, and Bateman was a bit wooden. The performance from Zach Mills was terrific, however. And the store was a place I would have spent a lot of time in as a boy.

And speaking as a husband and father of two, I was not bored at any point during this movie. And I'm a pretty typical red-blooded-sports-fanatic American male. I just haven't lost my ability to enjoy a flight of fantasy every once in a while.

Give this movie a chance if you've got any sense of magic left inside of you.

Oh, and to "luckyunicorn" who took umbrage with the line "You just have to believe in yourself", questioning "Who talks like this?", I would have you know that I say this to my girls all the time. Because it's the truth.

We all really enjoyed Mr Magorium.

It has a wonderful sense of magic about it and very good solid performances from the leads.

Most of all it is the Emporium, the toy store that provides much of the wonder: real care, thought, and a real sense of wonder pervade the set.

The story is lovingly done, and never too schmaltzy.

We came away talking about our favorite bits the kids remembered lots of small details: a sure sign they really did lose themselves in the movies.

Overall I would say one of the better films for kids that doesn't try to be anything other than it is: it reminded me of 1970s Disney, simple, innocent, magic.

This movie was every bit as goofy and fun and happy as I remembered it being, but watching it as an adult brought it to another level, and any adult who says otherwise... well they may have missed the point.

Magic is all around us, and there are so many little things to find joy in, like a lovely pair of shoes you found in Tuscany. This is what Mr. Magorium saw, and that's how he lived a fulfilling life. As we grow up we so often become more like The Mutant, caught up in work and seeing things to be just what they are and nothing more, when people criticize this movie that is the life they are living, they're 'just' guys, as Mahoney says. Kids see magic in everything, and maybe if adults did too we would be happier.

Kids will certainly enjoy it, and if the adults can set aside preconceived notions of what being an adult has to mean, they can enjoy it too.

Please watch this movie.