Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium (DVD)

A 243-year-old wizard, played as a lisping simpleton by Dustin Hoffman, is planning to hand over his magical toyshop to his assistant, Natalie Portman. And that's the whole story. There's forced whimsy by the candy-striped basketload, some shoplifting from Dr Seuss and Roald Dahl's own wonder emporia, and innumerable lectures about believing in yourself. But if you take away all the quirkiness and preachiness there's almost no plot left on the shelves. 'Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium' is the setting for a film. Now someone just has to come up with the film. Nicholas Barber