Matilda (1996)
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Matilda Movie Review
Matilda is a 1996 family fantasy comedy film directed by and starring Danny DeVito. It’s a pretty solid, albeit childish movie.
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“I cannot for the life of me understand why small children take so long to grow up.
I think they do it deliberately, just to annoy me“
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Yes, this film is pretty much a children’s flick that is almost bereft of appeal for adult audiences. I am childlike in nature and even I found it way too kiddy-oriented. Admittedly, that isn’t a bad thing, but it’s also not great. I wanted a bit more sophistication from it as it entirely lacks in the themes/message department.
It’s a solid fantasy flick that explores the magic that is cultivated from anger quite well. It’s an old concept, but is put to use really well here. In that area, the film works the best as it’s somewhat lacking in the comedy department with its obviously unsophisticated humor.
Mara Wilson is charming, though a bit unlikable at times, as Matilda Wormwood. Even though she can be annoying, she’s still very relatable to its intended audience, at least she’s supposed to be. The Wormwoods are over-the-top, but I definitely liked Danny DeVito here as he fitted the role really well. I also found his direction pretty solid here and he proved that he’s quite talented.
Miss Jennifer Honey is an exceedingly likable teacher character and the two share such a wonderful friendship at first until eventually she adopts her in that too good to be true, but still wonderful finale. But I really found Miss Trunchbull way too goofy, cartoony and an obviously childish villain meant to appeal just to kids. She can be funny, but still the humor targeted toward her is easy and obvious.
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Matilda is at its best when it’s dealing with fantastical elements and family abuse. I found some of its more poetic, slower scenes quite charming and the film simply is wonderful for small kids as it should prove very relatable to them. It plays on all their dreams so well. I just wish that it wasn’t as action oriented or as goofy and it would have been much better. A slower pace would have worked wonders for it, but at least the direction, acting, cinematography and effects are all pretty good. It’s an archetypal 90s kid’s flick which was nostalgic for me as I grew up watching these kinds of films.
Matilda is an overly silly, goofy and over-the-top family flick with a cartoony villain and childish humor, but it’s terrific for children, it features a couple of really charming sequences and it’s at its best when it’s dealing with the fantastical elements. It’s an entertaining, endearing film, but too comedic and fast paced.
