Matilda (1996)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Awesome Movie

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

I read the book of Matilda, and was amazed when I saw it on amazon. I watched it, and was literally amazed at how epic it was. I was very pleased with the acting job. All the kids, even though they were small, were great! I saw Matilda on Broadway, and was almost driven to happy tears. This movie really makes you feel for Matilda, and feel for Ms. Honey. The Trunchbull is mean, scary, and cruel. She is always displayed like this, and I think that Pam Ferris was great! Plus, you can never beat Danny DeVito, and he is perfectly fit for the role as Mr. Wormwood. Bruce is always meeting trouble, and Jimmy Karz plays that perfectly. Plus, Ms. Honey is played as the opposite of the Trunchbull, and Embeth Davidtz played that perfectly. All things considered, this is the perfect movie to watch over and over. And when your done, consider listening to the original Broadway cast recording.

I love this movie and look forward to seeing the Broadway production next year. Mara Wilson is such a precocious little star. I generally dislike kid actors but could watch her forever. Roald Dahl brings us a host of quirky characters who are often symbols of a society that isn't much fun for kids. Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman are Matilda's dysfunctional parents who treat her like dirt. She has two gifts: and indomitable spirit and telekinesis. She finally is allowed to go to school, but the school she attends is a nightmare where Miss Trunchbull, an ex-hammer throwing Olympian is in charge. She abuses the children physically and mentally. Eventually, it's going to come down to Matilda and this woman. Matilda enlists her teacher, Miss Honey, who finally gives her the things she needs, love and respect. Of course, Miss Honey is going to pay a price for her aid to the little girl.

Matilda is born into a difficult situation (remember this is a comedy) with arguably the worst (not physically abusive) parents ever, from when they drive her home with the car seat sliding around in the back of their station wagon, to her mother denying that she is old enough to go to school, so Matilda can stay home to receive packages (of stolen car parts) - remember? comedy!The parents are played perfectly by Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman - two comic geniuses.But the star is Mara Wilson as Mitilda, the little girl who takes care of herself and teaches herself to read, and through this self-determination and READING, she saves herself. An excellent role model for any child. An excellent film to rent for National Library Week in April.

Danny DeVito directs, co-stars & narrates this 1996 fantasy with Mara Wilson, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz and Pam Ferris based on the book. Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire) plays Matilda, a sweet, young girl who discovers she has telekinetic powers. DeVito (Taxi) and Perlman (Cheers) play her parents, Harry and Zinnia Wormwood who often yell and neglect her. Davidtz (Army of Darkness) plays Jennifer Honey, Matilda's nice teacher and Ferris plays Agatha Trunchbull, the mean headmistress of their school who is also Miss Honey's aunt. Soon, Matilda decides to help Miss Honey find peace in her life as well as her own. Paul Reubens (Pee-wee's Big Adventure) and Tracey Walter (Batman) also appear as FBI agents. This is a good children's fantasy with humorous, spooky and dramatic moments mixed in. The cast is great and there's neat effects. I recommend this.