Magoo Hoffman

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Of all the films described in Entertainment Weekly's Fall Preview issue, only one made me go "uh-oh" -- Zac Helm's Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (20th Century Fox, 11.16). It's that look on Dustin Hoffman's face, mainly. On top of a guarded feeling I've had about Helm since seeing Stranger Than Fiction, which he wrote, last year. Obviously not aimed at guys like myself, but is anyone up for another Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-type deal? Natalie Portman mitigates somewhat.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 20, 2007 at 5:06 PM

comment #1

Jeff says ...

I got to agree with you on this one. I tried reading the script a few years ago and coudln't get past page twenty. The trailer was equally as bad. I like the cast a lot but the whole idea of the movie seems really bad. Although, it can't be any worse then Fred Claus. I saw that POS a month ago and it made Elf look like a masterpiece.

Posted by Jeff at August 20, 2007 5:29 PM

comment #2

BurmaShave says ...

As someone who really liked Burton's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, I'll say no, I'm not ready for another one, certainly not starring Dustin Hoffman. What the hell were they thinking?

Posted by BurmaShave at August 20, 2007 5:32 PM

comment #3

malibugigolo says ...

I'm with Wells on this one. Stranger than Fiction was a nice idea for a first act, that unfortunately tried to pass itself off for three.

Glamorizing retards is a Hollywood tradition though.

Posted by malibugigolo at August 20, 2007 5:32 PM

comment #4

OddDuck says ...

Wow, if ever a picture made me not want to see a movie, it's this one.

And it's weird, I for some reason have this great respect for the actor, but can't name a single movie of his from the last two decades that I'm even remotely a fan of. You have to go back to Rain Man and earlier to start getting movies that are concensus winners.

Posted by OddDuck at August 20, 2007 5:36 PM

comment #5

Josh Massey says ...

How long ago did they film this, incidentally? During the trailer, the girlfriend couldn't get over how much Portman looked like a 16-year-old boy. The only thing I could guess is that they filmed it right after V For Vendetta.

Posted by Josh Massey at August 20, 2007 5:37 PM

comment #6

malibugigolo says ...

The photo makes it look like Hoffman took a dump in his pants and Portman has been blinded by the smell.

Posted by malibugigolo at August 20, 2007 5:38 PM

comment #7

Geoff says ...

If that photo is causing people to raise a red flag then just check out the trailer...or don't...you've been warned.

Posted by Geoff at August 20, 2007 5:58 PM

comment #8

Wrecktum says ...

Caption contest:

"Son, some day all this will be yours."

Posted by Wrecktum at August 20, 2007 5:58 PM

comment #9

D.Z. says ...

I thought this was a remake of Toys.

Posted by D.Z. at August 20, 2007 6:01 PM

comment #10

malibugigolo says ...

That trailer wasn't bad.
Maybe for the kiddies.
Save that laugh that Portman spits out about 3/4 of the way through...scary.

Posted by malibugigolo at August 20, 2007 6:15 PM

comment #11

Balthazar says ...

1. I don't care. Natalie Portman is still hot.

2. I can't believe that's the same guy who starred in Tootsie, which I just watched against last weekend.

Posted by Balthazar at August 20, 2007 6:32 PM

comment #12

swhitty says ...

Let's say the little I read about it in EW lowered my already low expectations dramatically. Including the kiss-of-death fact that Hoffman uses a "funny" voice throughout -- one he used to use while telling his kids stories about a silly ostrich. (Insert your own head-in-the-sand joke here.)

Posted by swhitty at August 20, 2007 6:39 PM

comment #13

The Winchester says ...

I thought it was Mr. Magorium, is it a Mr. Magoo movie? What the hell is going on with this movie? Only Burton should be allowed to make whimsical childlike fantasy flicks that I can easily ignore. Too many others makes it difficult to avoid.

Posted by The Winchester at August 20, 2007 6:52 PM

comment #14

Griff says ...

Single most painful trailer I've seen this year. Some bright lad/lass will use it in film school as an example of how to torpedo an apparently marginal movie before it ever sees the light of day.

Posted by Griff at August 20, 2007 7:15 PM

comment #15

Spacelamb says ...

I saw the poster for this and instantly thought of the episode of the Simpsons where Troy McClure marries Selma and ends up making some movie called The Fabulous Adventures of Horatio Huffnagle, or something equally lame and dated. I'm pretty sure it involved travelling in a giant balloon.

Oh & malibugigolo: fucking funny! LOL

Posted by Spacelamb at August 20, 2007 8:16 PM

comment #16

Undercover Brother says ...

This one looks like sugar-coated cancer. It was the kind of preview that made you want to chuck a molotav cocktail at the screen.

Posted by Undercover Brother at August 20, 2007 8:28 PM

comment #17

Matthew Lucas says ...

The title is "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," not "Mr. Magoo's Wonder Emporium."

Posted by Matthew Lucas at August 20, 2007 8:39 PM

comment #18

fnt says ...

I completely agree. And Jeff hasn't even mentioned how apparently Hoffman insisted on using his "ostrich" voice for it.

Man....

Posted by fnt at August 20, 2007 11:53 PM

comment #19

Larry says ...

I would go see Mr. Magoo's Wonder Emporium, but any film that makes up a name as stupid as Magorium so it can rhyme with Emporium is not getting my money.

Sequels I won't see, either: Mr. Malarium's Wonder Aquarium. Mr. Macadium's basketball stadium. Mr. McMinema's Wonderful Cinema. Mr. Magorian's kick ass DeLorean. Mr. Malactory's Choc-o-late Factory.

Posted by Larry at August 21, 2007 1:14 AM

comment #20

Rich S. says ...

I'll bet Jim Carrey is puzzled as to why he isn't involved in this. Looks like it's right up his alley.

Posted by Rich S. at August 21, 2007 4:34 AM

comment #21

Bocephus says ...

"The photo makes it look like Hoffman took a dump in his pants and Portman has been blinded by the smell."

I would watch that movie. Mr McToylings stinktastic pants-soiling.

Posted by Bocephus at August 21, 2007 8:36 AM

comment #22

Hallick says ...

"And it's weird, I for some reason have this great respect for the actor, but can't name a single movie of his from the last two decades that I'm even remotely a fan of."

What's even more freaky is the fact that he only did FOUR movies in the 80's: Tootsie, Ishtar, Rainman, and Family Business. Other than that, there's the CBS version of "Death of a Salesman" and that's it.

Posted by Hallick at August 21, 2007 9:48 AM

comment #23

christian says ...

uh WAG THE DOG anybody? one of hoffman's best recent perormances. and he was good in I HEART HUCKABEES altho i wanted more from him...

Posted by christian at August 21, 2007 9:57 AM

comment #24

OddDuck says ...

I haven't seen either wag the dog or huckabees, but probably will soon. And I'm sure in addition to those two someone could probably make some sort of case for at least another couple. Still, that leaves a remarkably thin record of quality work covering almost twenty years. Before '86 or so the guy was rocking too! Rain Man, Tootsie, Kramer v Kramer, Marathon Man, Straw Dogs, Midnight Cowboy and at least a few more. So WTF happened to this guy? I look at that movie still that Wells posted and it makes me not only skip the movie, but punch him in the face. And "ostrich voice"?!? That just makes me want to kick him in the balls.

Posted by OddDuck at August 21, 2007 10:02 AM

comment #25

christian says ...

hoffman has never been a prolific actor. ever.

i still think he's one of the great american actors, always will be.

and if you ain't seen WAG THE DOG...get thee off this site to a dvd machine...

Posted by christian at August 21, 2007 10:10 AM

comment #26

Bocephus says ...

I loved Dog and Huckabees, Hoffman was terrific in both.

And I have to admit that I was absolutely puzzled and delighted with his role in The Messenger. It was a godawful movie, but I thought his scene was hilarious.

Posted by Bocephus at August 21, 2007 11:18 AM

comment #27

Silverscreenvideos says ...

Dustin Hoffman spent most of the 1980's involved in stage work, as did Al Pacino, another great who was pretty much MIA for the decade. I'm sure both of them had plenty of film offers during that time, but, as always, most of the roles were probably crap looking to cash in on the bankability of the star's name.

On the other hand, Gene Hackman and Michael Caine were very busy during the 1980's, and while this led to a few gems like Mississippi Burning and Hannah and Her Sisters, it also gave us All Night Long, Superman 4, The Hand and Victory. Are we better off being privileged to experience Hackman and Caine's extensive body of work during that decade?

Posted by Silverscreenvideos at August 22, 2007 12:46 AM

comment #28