Mr Megoriums Wonder Emporium- A review and an obsession
‘We must face tomorrow, whatever it may hold, with determination, joy and bravery.’
If you know me, you know that there are only two movies I’ll watch time and time again that’s not from Disney: Astro-boy and Mr Megorium’s Wonder Emporium.I’m going to be talking about the later.If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you get up off of that seat you’re sitting on, drive to the nearest Target and buy it.Right now.This post will be here for you when you get back.I can’t explain exactly what it is that drew me into this movie, originally. Maybe that’s because there was never one thing, but a whole bundle of things.Do you ever watch something that makes you feel so many emotions all at once, and it feels like your whole body is tingling with happiness and sadness and joy and wonder and maybe just a little touch of magic? This movie has done that to me.I’m often told that the deepness and thoroughness of my obsessions are pretty unusual (how many eighteen year old girls do you know that cry over children’s movies right from the opening credits?) But hey, we’ve already recognised the fact that I’m not very typical.I’ll do my best to explain as well as I can, though I fear I’m going to give no justice on how purely and utterly wonderful this movie is from a simple blog post, when in reality I kind of just want to scream about it from the tallest tree I can climb.Something I adore about this movie in particular, is how beautifully it portrays four different points of view of people on the Asperger’s spectrum; the movie has four main characters:Eric: The ten year old boy with an extravagant hat collection, who finds making friends his own age difficult, and instead chooses to make friends with squirrels and the occasional adult.Molly: The finger-tapping, frustrated child prodigy and genius, who can’t quite tap into her great potential. Everybody can see a spark inside of her, though for some reason she just can’t seem to let it out.Henry: The Mutant, the socially awkward adult businessman, who learns how to play and connect.And my ultimate, all-time favourite character to ever be in any movie in the whole world, the extravagant Mr Megorium: The brilliant, 243 year old inventor, who’s possibly survived so long due to his incapability of becoming bored. His life is a daily adventure, and he’s comfortable in his own world and quirky ways.Oh how I adore this movie.The first time I watched this as an inquisitive ten year old, I was entranced by the magical toy store which was jam packed full of toys which seemed to be alive. I saw the bright colours, the happy graphics of the opening titles, the easy to follow story line, and I was instantly addicted. Obsessed, maybe (definitely).However it didn’t become one of my ‘things’ until a few years later. For some reason, when I decided to hire it from the video shop a few years ago after once again being entranced by the magical cover of the movie, that’s when I become obsessed with the story line, with the delightful characters and the bitter-sweet but easy to follow plot. It’s not jaded, or loaded with innuendos that seem to plague so many other kids movies these days, and it’s not trying to do something ground breaking and fashionable. It’s unabashedly sentimental that holds an old-fashioned story line, a perfect cast and even more quotable lines than The Princess Bride.After watching the movie for literally the fourth time in a day, I began to grow confused. Why is this movie is not more popular? Why is the world not as obsessed with it as I am? Why are there not blogs and clothing labels and theme parks dedicated to it!?Watching this movie, it’s so, so easy to be able to connect with these four characters. Fellow aspies, take note.Eric struggled to make friends, and was constantly ostracized at every turn. Kids
his own age would whisper mean things and criticise his quirkiness. So playing by himself, often creating fantastic pieces of art in minutes that an adult wouldn’t even be able to construct in months, and enjoying his much loved hat collection, was always the easier option. Sometimes he’d connect with animals, or the occasional adult who was equally as unique and quirky as himself, his mother tries to help, but is endlessly worried about her sons inability to make friends and fit in with the rest of the world.
And then there’s Mahoney, the stunning pianist who I was drawn to, and who is so, oh so frustrated. She knows she is destined for greatness, she knows there’s a sparkle that’s begging to burst out, and that she is so much more than just a worker at a toy store (even if it is magical). Like Eric, she has no friends other than an eccentric old man, who believes in her talent and her magic more than anybody does. She’s trapped inside a body that she’s unable to release the magic that’s within it.On to Henry, affectionately known as ‘The Mutant’. An accountant who Megorium believes must be a cross between a counter, and a mutant. Henry never once questions the nickname, probably because he does feel somewhat like an alien. He tries so hard to be helpful, and to
make his affections known, but he’s often turned down, or frowned upon due to his strange and off-putting ways. He doesn’t know how to play, and has no clue onhow to connect emotionally with other people. Henry tries so hard to fit in with the world around him, and it’s not until finally, he finds people he likes, and he figures it all out.And then, my beloved favourite. Excuse me while I tear up while writing this.Mr Megorium is by far my favourite character out of any book, movie, or series I have ever read or watched, and by far the most captivating and unique. I challenge you to find someone half as interesting and endearing.He’s strange, quirky, while also being kind and full of wisdom (he’s totally quotable) and all round likable. Instantly, we’re drawn to his crazy clothes, crazy hair, and crazy personality. He doesn’t go with what’s normal, and he’s always seen in something out of the ordinary, often something bright and colourful (as a girl who dies her hair every colour of the rainbow and wears coloured dots by her eyes, do you see the appeal to me in this character?). He goes against the mainstream, questioning authority and social normality to all extents, and he chooses to live his own life as he darn well pleases.He’s optimistic. So optimistic. So much so that he’s even looking forward to his next great experience, death.
And I think this is why I love this movie so much. Not only is it so inviting, with an easy plot, and bright, funny characters that make it fun and easy to watch. But when you look deeper, past the mutant and the hat collection, the twiddling fingers and the extravagant hair styles, the zebra in the kitchen and the live fish mobile, there’s a story that’s full of wisdom that’s so beautiful and pure.
The incredibly talented director Zach Helm has given me so much support and comfort from these characters, and has portrayed them in a way that’s more relatable to me than any other character, while shedding a positive light on the world of Aspergers.A movie specified for children, has taught me a lot about life, and how you just need a little push, and you can unlock so much potential, and that there’s so much magic just begging to be released.Maybe you’re an Eric, who struggles with fitting in and making friends.Maybe you’re a Molly, who’s trying to find out how to release the beautiful sparkle inside of you.Or maybe you’re a Henry. Feeling like a mutant and not knowing how to communicate with everyone around you.Maybe you’re an Edward Megorium, with wild ideas and a crazy mind.Or maybe you’re all of them, which is equally as wonderful.Don't let yourself be locked into one thing though, these traits which people see originally do not define you. Each of these beautiful, extravagant people are so uniquely wonderful, too.Be an Eric. Because in the end, people learn to appreciate his fantastic brain.Be a Molly. Because in the end, she discovers her spark.Be a Henry. Because in the end, he learns how to communicate. He’s not a mutant anymore.And most of all, be a Mr Megorium. Be a rainbow of colour, embrace life and live it to the fullest. Don’t let the world change you, never lose your twinkle and that sparkle of magic inside of you.Be optimistic, and happy, and odd, and quirky, and all the wonderful, magnificent things that make you you shine through.Your life is an occasion, rise to it.