Matilda (1996)

Matilda (1996)

8/10

 Starring

Danny DeVito

Rhea Perlman

Embeth Davidtz

Pam Ferris

Mara Wilson

 

Directed by Danny DeVito

 

Matilda is one of the best children movies of the 90s for me growing up. Even now seeing it again I just have to applaud Danny DeVito on his work in this movie, which he directed.

The 90s for me came with an onslaught of children movies which forever have a hook in my heart. Anytime I hear the song Send Me on My Way by Rusted Root my mind travels back to the fond memories of watching Matilda. It just so happens one year after the lockdowns start in March 2020 the song seems to be trending on social media so I had to give this movie another watch.

The most magnificent thing in watching it again after more than two decades, I still find myself enjoying it and loving every moment of it.

The creation and depiction of every character in this movie is well crafted to suit the places created for them in this adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1988 classic Matilda. Which is why I accord a lot of praise to DeVito for his role as producer and director.

The movie starts with an introduction to the Wormwoods Harry (DeVito), wife Zinnia (Rhea Perlman) and their son Michael. Harry and Zinnia felt their home needed additional face and they adopted Matilda (Mara Wilson). Matilda was no ordinary girl, she was special at an early age without any tutoring she had though herself how to read, do mathematical computations and even the most difficult thing, take care of herself. Her family never saw any potential in her, because of her love for books. When the opportunity for Harry a used cars salesman to make a deal with selling a car to a Miss Trunchbull which will help get her to a school, he took it.

 Trunchbull is the villain of this movie she is cruel, wicked and tortures her students. Matilda now has to deal with a family who does not love her and a principal who wants to hurt her. There was a sliver lining to going to school though, her teacher Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) was an angel and made Matilda’s life all so special.

The movie now takes us through the challenges of these two as they have to deal with Trunchbull and Matilda has to deal with her crook of a father who seems to be in trouble with the law.

I don’t think I have to take too much of your time talking about the fantastic child actor of the 90s, Mara Wilson. In this movie she was magnificent and charmed every moment she was on screen.

The magnificent way the characters are shaped in this movie, from Matilda, Miss Honey and even the villain Miss Trunchbull are so done to make it easy for children to love. Then the script is well written so that an adult could watch along with their child and not feel they are being taken through the chipper.

I highly recommend seeing this with your children it is a keeper to watch again.