Wiggly Socks Movie Reviews

By Linda Winsh-Bolard


Original script! This is rare, and deserves extra point-or sock.

Molly Mahoney is stuck. Once a piano playing child prodigy, she now manages a charming, magical toy store while still trying to write the concerto that would make her recognized as the truly exceptional musician everybody told her she’d become.

Having realized that she is tuck, she tries to confront her boss, Mr. Magorium. He is the owner of the magical toyshop, the inventor of toys and the 242 years old man who is “leaving”. It takes some time for Molly to realize what “leaving” means, just as it takes time for the accountant, Henry, to realize that his usual standards and procedures do not apply at the post where he is routinely called “Mutant”. Henry was called in because Mr. Magorium wants to leave the store to Molly.

But Molly is not ready for the responsibility, not sure this is where she should be, and to the shop is not cooperating with the change either, the walls are changing colors, the toys are acting up and Molly doesn’t believe that she has the magical spark, that Mr. Magorium had, necessary to bring the sad, suddenly black world of toys back to life.

The story is divided into book chapters following the life of the participants. Not the best of transitions.

It is Zach Helm’s first directorial attempt, and as such is traces its philosophy to his writing and the question of what is life and what is worth in life. One story ends, a new one begins. That might a bit too deep for your average child and a bit too simplistic for your average adult.
Living makes us forget the magic we once took for granted. Well, it does, but the film really offers no advice as to how to get the magic back (believe in yourself is way too simplistic in today’s society).

It has fantastic, colorful, flying and nearly magical art directions. Within those art direction lays a number of tiny jokes from the angry Octopus to the shy Squeegee.

Natalie Portman is so painfully thin that her head looks way to large for her body and brings the meaning of lollipop to the next level. When she smiles, she often reminds us of the skull behind. Not exactly a cheerful image.

It is less interesting whether or not Molly finds herself than it is to find out what all that neat shop stuff can do, what else can be found behind the magical door and where could you get with all that. After all, we know there will be a happy end.

Dustin Hoffman as the wondrous, crazy, magical man does as well as could be expected with hair standing up and bushy eyebrows. Against Molly’s angst he brings a direct simple acceptance and optimism always looking for the next adventure.

Then there is Eric, the shy and talented kid, who doesn’t want to lose the store, has no friends and attempts to befriend the “Mutant”. Together they provide the most human strain in the film.

It’s not a new concept, toys have become alive often enough, nor is the longing for childhood innocence, hope and ability to imagine and believe a discovery, but the shop is a beauty and the conviction of the director that he might be able to show us some of what we are missing makes the film fun to watch, even if you doubt its premise.

Credits:
Screenwriter-director: Zach Helm
Producers: Richard N. Gladstein, Jim Garavente
Executive producers: Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane
Director of photography: Roman Osin
Production designer: Therese DePrez
Music: Alexandre Desplat, Aaron Zigman
Costume designer: Christopher Hargadon
Visual effects designer: Kevin Tod Haug
Editors: Sabrina Plisco, Steven Weisberg
Cast:
Mr. Edward Magorium, Avid Shoe-Wearer: Dustin Hoffman
Molly Mahoney, the Composer: Natalie Portman
Henry Weston, the Mutant: Jason Bateman
Eric Applebaum, the Hat Collector: Zach Mills
Bellini, the Bookbuilder: Ted Ludzik
Mrs. Goodman, Who Wants the Store: Kiele Sanchez
Running time -- 94 minutes