The works of Roald Dahl are magical, unique, and quirky and have some profound themes from parenthood, loss and grief to bullying and oppression. These themes are found in the works of Matilda which is the basis for today’s film review. I was a fan of Roald Dahl while I was growing up and I loved the 1996 Danny DeVito-directed film Matilda. It was imaginative, sweet and magical with a stunning performance of Matilda by Mara Wilson and until now was the only adaption of the book.
Fast forward to pre-pandemic where Matilda was updated as a musical which proceeded to play on the West End. This new version of the classic story transported a new generation to the story by updating the source material by modernising it and diversifying it. After all Roald Dahl wrote his stories during wartime and even though there are certain timeless qualities to each story the characters do feel a little out-of-time and need a little updating. The results were fantastic and the success paved way to another film adaption which is this version. Matilda the Musical is more of an adaption of the musical than the book with some key events from the book being missed out.
The star of the film is Alisha Weir who captures the naughty-ness, the smarts and innocence of Matilda perfectly. She’s head-strong and needs to contend with her useless parents and a school with a headmistress with a dark past and a military-esque approach to how schools should be run. Trunchbull Hall is a school but feels and looks like a prison. It is here where Matilda learns that creativity and imaginative feels locked behind bars and learns that the other pupils are punished harshly and unfairly with the only saving grace being Miss Honey, a teacher with a heart pure as gold.
The performances of each character is what really sells this film. Lashana Lynch feels warm and approachable in the role of Miss Honey and is completely different from other characters she’s played in the past. Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham play Matilda’s parents who are selfish and uncaring and provide a lot of the humour in the film. Then there’s the elephant in the room - Emma Thompson as Agatha Trunchbull. She is fantastic and relishes the role of the villain. Yes, she’s covered heavily in make-up and prosthetics but she looks the part and it never rarely feels like a pantomime performance, despite what other reviews have said. Her interactions with Matlida are the selling point of the film.
Lastly, I can’t end this blog without mentioning the music. This is a musical and there’s a lot of songs within this film all sang with vibrancy and all are choreographed with a sense of fun which is evident on screen. The kids look like they’re having a great time in their roles and their dance moves are all very impressive. From “Miracle” to “Revolting Children”, each song feels distinct, catchy and memorable. Collectively, the music, the characters and the story create a timeless version of a timeless story.
★★★★☆
4/5
Matilda the Musical doesn’t shy away from the heavy themes in the book, from abandonment, parenting, bullying and much more. There’s a lot at stake in this film, and Alisha Weir does a tremendous job of playing a character with the heavy burden of not being loved by her parents and fighting against the system in a prison-like school. The film is all about Matilda and we may lose some focus of the other characters, with some side-plots missing from the book, but the music, the acting and everything else more than makes up for it. Children and adults will love the film, and it is the perfect family film to watch this festive season too.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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