Looking like a daft clone of Ken Dodd, Dustin Hoffman plays a 245-year old Toy shop owner called Mr Magorium whose wonder emporium is a fantastic haven for small children since all the toys invented by Mr M are beautifully housed and come to life as soon as his staff walk in the door. It's a place where literally magic takes over and its immensely popular with the kiddies that come to visit.

Mr M though has drafted in an accountant Henry (Bateman) and before long it becomes clear to Mr M's bright and breezy assistant Molly Mahoney (Portman) that Mr Magorium is thinking of leaving the shop. She doesn't know the half of it though for Mr M is intending not just to leave the shop but also life itself and when that happens the shop will lose its spell and worse the magic that brings the shop to life everyday will disappear in a monochrome murk. It's as if the emporium itself is pining for its lynchpin owner.

If Molly is to revive the magic, she must solve a puzzle aided by a clever young boy (Zach Mills) who loves the shop. Mr M will leave her with a cube of wood and Molly must solve the puzzle and crack the cube for the shop to survive.

This is wholesome family stuff with not a bad word or bad moment throughout. It's also sadly pedestrian. For Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium think instead wacky Dustin Hoffman in toyshop extravaganza beset with Enormous Tedium.

When you first get introduced to the Wonder Emporium, you think fantastic and what marvellous scope there will be for a superbly inventive film. The whole thing is likeable, but you're left thinking there's not much to it.

Portman is full of zest as Molly and young star Zach Mills brings a lot of fresh-faced charm to the screen. It's fine as far as it goes, which is not that far, but if you want a film to take the kids to, that is going to be inoffensive and keep them mildly amused for an afternoon, you might just get away with it.