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

The 90s, for me, came with an onslaught of children’s movies that 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 that one year after the lockdowns started in March 2020, the song seemed to be trending on social media, so I had to give this movie another watch.

The most magnificent thing about watching it again after more than two decades is that 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. This 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), his wife Zinnia (Rhea Perlman), and their son Michael. Harry and Zinnia felt their home needed additional face, so they adopted Matilda (Mara Wilson). Matilda was no ordinary girl; she was special from an early age. Without any tutoring, she had taught 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 arose for Harry, a used car salesman, to make a deal selling a car to Miss Trunchbull (the movie’s villain), he took it, hoping it would help get Matilda into a school.

Trunchbull is cruel, wicked, and tortures her students. Matilda now has to deal with a family that doesn’t love her and a principal who wants to hurt her. However, there was a silver lining to going to school: her teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz), was an angel who made Matilda’s life all the more special.

The movie now takes us through the challenges these two face as they 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 need 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 way the characters are shaped in this movie—Matilda, Miss Honey, and even the villain Miss Trunchbull—are done in such a way that makes it easy for children to love them. The script is well-written, so that an adult can watch along with their child and not feel like they’re being taken through something childish.

I highly recommend seeing this with your children. It’s a keeper to watch again.