A Kid's Movie

Molly Mahoney: [after they have set all the clocks forward in a shop to strike noon at the same time] Now we wait.
Mr. Edward Magorium: No. We Breathe. We Pulse. We Regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. Thirty-seven seconds, well used, is a lifetime.

I watched the movie Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium this past evening. I remember hearing the press about the movie a few years ago and brushed it off as just another kids’ movie.

It might seem like a kid’s movie – if that is the label you want to give it. But perhaps one might ask themselves why a “kid’s movie” isn’t worth seeing? Is it because of the lack of sex and violence, the happy feeling we receive when watching it, the life lesson posed, and we can’t forget – the happy ending?

The basis of the movie is a toy store, started by Mr. Magorium. At 243, this gentleman is on his last pair of shoes. (He found a pair he liked in Italy and bought enough to last him his entire life.) We never know if he was truly telling the truth about receiving an IOU from Thomas Edison with a light bulb drawn on it, but does it really matter? He has built his store on the foundation of magic and the spirit of imagination. The movie points out that Mr. Magorium’s story is coming to an end, and he has decided that on one day soon, at around 4:30p.m., he will depart. Not die, he reminds us. Light bulbs die, he will depart.

Mr. Magorium plans to leave the store to Molly Mahoney, his store manager. Ms. Mahoney is a 23 year old that has not yet figured out her life, much because she does not have confidence in herself. To get everything in order for his departure, Mr. Magorium hires an accountant to determine the value of the store. This gentleman, “Mutant” as they call him because “according to the word, it must be a cross between a counter and a mutant and that may be precisely what we need” sees the store for what it is, just a toy store. And, we can’t forget Eric, the young boy who collects hats that hangs around the store and appears to serve as a bridge way between the child and adult world, yet doesn’t quite fit in with either.

Mr. Magorium attempts to prepare these three for next chapter of their own lives: the journey of the store, the acceptance of magic, imagination, and confidence, not just in the world around them, but in themselves.

This story awakens our inner self and what better place to do it than in a magical toy store. Some identify this “self” as their inner child: care free, fun, open to all ideas, naive, and the list can go on. Many times as we go through life, our inner self becomes trapped by the shell we have created to protect it from the harshness of the adult world. Who can blame us? With the suffering and the sadness, bills, stress, and judgment of others, sometimes we place our more vulnerable selves in the “safe room” of our heart. Why do we do this? Because if our inner core breaks, what is left of us?

We go on waiting for a big event to let our inner self out to play, maybe the holidays, maybe the weekend, it can be anything. But as we wait, life continues, we continue. The movie points out the fact that things are always happening, even while we wait, so why not enjoy it by being our selves – our complete selves. Why hide our inner self when it is who we are? Our everyday life will end up being more meaningful. We will be truly happy. Mr Magorium tells Ms. Mahoney that life is an occasion, so we should rise to it. He could not have said it better.

Another quote I enjoyed:
Molly Mahoney: I'm stuck!
Mr. Edward Magorium: Oh, to my floor?
Molly Mahoney: No, sir.
Mr. Edward Magorium: Then what?
Molly Mahoney: Like a person. You remember when I was a little girl and I could play Rahmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and everyone was talking about my potential?
Mr. Edward Magorium: Mhm.
Molly Mahoney: Well, I am 23 now and everyone's still talking about my potential but if you ask em to play the song I know best... I'll still play Rachmaninov's Second.
Mr. Edward Magorium: May I suggest you stun the world with Molly Mahoney's First?

Instead of waiting for that time to have fun, to be yourself, to let your inner self out, why not do it now? We are a lot more capable then we know, and even in rough times – we can get through it. There is no reason for that shell. Start your new chapter now. Life is truly magical, so why not open our eyes and let our “whole self” see it?

I loved this movie – and I recommend it 100%. You will be glad you watched it.