The other day, my daughter and I watched Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, mostly because the DVD was on sale and I’d promised her a new movie as reward. I had no expectations of it, except that I usually like Dustin Hoffman and hoped it wasn’t another Ishtar. As it turned out, Jessica sat in rapt attention the entire time, enjoying every minute of it. It can be hard to find movies she likes and can follow along with, but this movie turned out to be one of those rare delights that I can enjoy as an adult and she can enjoy as a child.
Interestingly, it’s a story about death, but the whole point is to live your life to the fullest. What I liked best? Not everything tied up into a happily ever after ending. The little boy without any friends his age didn’t magically make any at the end. The timid shop manager found her calling, but didn’t magically complete the concerto she’d been trying to finish for lo these many years. Still, the ending was satisfying because while one story ended, you felt like several other stories were just beginning. Not a bad lesson in story-telling.