- Title: USA: "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" premieres in New York
- Date: 15th November 2007
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK USA (NOVEMBER 12, 2007) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) JASON BATEMAN, ON "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT" SERIES COMING BACK AS A MOVIE, SAYING: "There is a chance. We want to do the movie version of it. It's a question of timing, the will is there but we've got to wait until our fearless leader fits it into his schedule and his to-do list. So we will wait, we'll be here, we might just look a lot older and fatter."
- Embargoed: 30th November 2007 17:54
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAA5GAMZVWA2BHPFV0BBRG6A6N7
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" premieres in New York and actor Dustin Hoffman says he hopes critics like the movie and likens a good review to a "stay of execution."
Stars Natalie Portman and Dustin Hoffman hit the red carpet for the premiere of their latest film, "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" in New York.
In a throwback to the 80s, Portman wore a hot pink mini dress with lips to match. Talking to reporters on the red carpet the Hollywood darling says she enjoyed making a children's flick that would appeal to adults as well.
"On a larger front it's really about how you can find magic in any corner and in any way and especially in yourself."
The film tells the story of Mr. Magorium, an extraordinary 243-year-old toy maker who announces that he will be departing this world and handing over the reigns of his store to the manager, Molly Mahoney (played by Portman.) Mr. Magorium hires Henry the accountant (played by Jason Bateman) to audit the store and establish its value. As the magical playland filled with toys discovers Magorium's departure plans, the toys that were so full of life suddenly turn gray and quiet. Molly must find a way to recreate the magic in the store as well as find the spark within herself.
Dustin Hoffman says he was drawn to the film because it deals with the issue of life and death, which is difficult for all children. Hoffman adds, as so many in Hollywood say, that it's simply "hard to come by a good script."
"I think it's really a well written script. It has levels to it that I had not seen before. I don't think of it as a children's movie, even though it is, I think of it as a family movie because I think the film can interact with adults as well as children. I wish my kids were younger because I would've taken them to see this film."
As for the critics? Hoffman says that while he does pay attention to reviews, he hasn't read any yet himself. He was pleased to hear about a good review referenced by the TODAY show, a breakfast chat show on NBC.
"It's a reprieve," he says.
"You're on death row in a sense when you're at this point in a movie. You just keep wanting to get stays of execution. So a good review is a stay of execution."
But not all the reviews are positive. A biting review in the The New York Post says, "The star of classics like "Marathon Man,"
"Midnight Cowboy" and "All the President's Men" has been reduced to hawking magical, belching kiddie toys? As his character in "Rain Man" might say: Uh-oh."
Actor Jason Bateman, who in recent years earned acclaim for his role in the Emmy winning series "Arrested Development," says he was thrilled to work with Hoffman and Portman. He credits the "Arrested Development" series for helping him launch a film career, and says there is talk of bringing back the series that many fans think was too short-lived, but this time on the big-screen.
"We want to do the movie version of it. It's a question of timing, the will is there but we've got to wait until our fearless leader fits it into his schedule and his to-do list. So we will wait, we'll be here, we might just look a lot older and fatter."
"Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" hits theaters in North America on November 16th. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
