On Wednesday evening, my husband and I took our children to see Dustin Hoffman's newest character, Mr. Magorium. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium was a really great and creative film. It was sort of a mix of other classics...such as Willy Wonka and Big. It was warm, tender, and even addressed many of life's lessons...some of which I want to tell you here!
Be yourself. In the film, there is a young boy named Eric. None of the other children in the magical toy store want to be his friend, as they believe that he is "weird". Eric, though, remains to be his own person, with his own interests, and his own unique abilities. While his mom advises him how t o make friends, little Eric is still his quirky self...and manages to gain a friend in the story. The best part of the friendship he forms is that he does not change himself, but he helps someone else to change. Someone that needs to change quite a little bit.
Believe in your own talents and uniqueness. Natalie Portman's character, Molly Mahoney, is known to be an excellent concert pianist. She is writing her own concerto, and just cannot seem to finish the music. While she writes her song, she is employed at the Wonder Emporium. She sees the "magic" around her everyday at the toy store. And though she is inspired by it, she cannot seem to find any reason to be inspired by herself. She believes in everything and in everyone -- but her. Mahoney even asks someone if she "sparkles". He does not see any sparkle at that moment. However, by the end of the movie, she certainly does. She has found reasons to believe in herself, in her talents, and in her unique way of living. And, in so doing, she also helps contribute to the change we see in the one who needs to change quite a bit!
Be persistent in your endeavors. Although a small theme throughout the story, there is a little sock monkey sitting up on a shelf. This little sock monkey is constantly trying to reach out and hug Jason Bateman's character...the "Mutant". The little monkey is not seen or noticed the first time. He is not noticed the second time. But by the end of the film, on the third reach, he makes contact. He warms the Mutant (yes, the one needing a lot of change), and succeeds. The monkey could have withdrawn into himself and pouted. He could have just decided to quit. Who needs that darn mutant anyway? The truth is that they both needed each other. Persistence paid off here...and it always does, by the way!
Do not be afraid of "leaving". Mr. Magorium must "leave". He is, after all, 243 years old, and it is his time to die. To go to heaven. He is not afraid of passing away, at all. Instead, he embraces it as a matter of fact truth. He seems ready to go, too. He knows that it is and will be hard for those he is leaving behind. He also knows that he lied the life he was meant to love, and that he lived it well! Death is not a scary thing. We made the choice here on Earth of how to live. Our rewards in the afterlife will reflect those made here on Earth.
Overall, it was a wonderful movie and a night spent with those I love most on this planet and on this Earth. There are many other wonderful things you can take from this film as with many others. My hope is that the biggest thing we take from any movie is that it is an investment of time in the future relationships with our families and friends. An investment which will pay of big dividends...both in now and in heaven! I will be watching, reading, and writing!
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It is the quality of our relationships we have with others that will leave an impression in ones mind. I love kid movies! I may be 50 but we watch them all the time! We just watched Shrek 3 :)