When Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium was released, critics scathed it, and unnecessarily so. I saw it recently, and while it was no Neverending Story, it wasn't the worst children's film I've seen either. Here's my theory on why:
Critics have an imbedded loathing of kids films that aren't computer animated. The critics, jumped all over Ratatouille. I remember reading early reviews which suggested that it might be nominated for best picture, and, while I certainly enjoyed Ratatouille, it wasn't as interesting of a film as other Pixar-fare such as Meet the Robinsons or The Incredibles.
In the seventies and eighties there were loads of mystical, incredible live action and puppet films: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Muppet Movie, Neverending Story, The Peanut Butter Solution, Willow, Labyrinth. Not all of those got great reviews either. Sure, the effects may come off as more hokey than inspired and realistic, but that just means these films require a little more of what makes them magical -- imagination. If people just came Mr. Magorium a chance, they'd find in it some of the same magic that makes these films so inspiring.
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