Danny DeVito's adaptation of the Roald Dahl book for children is mostly just fine, helped along quite a bit by the charming performance of Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire) as young Matilda, a brilliant girl neglected by her stupid, self-involved parents (DeVito and Rhea Perlman). Ignored at home, Matilda escapes into a world of reading, exercising her mind so much she develops telekinetic powers. Good thing, too: sent off to a school headed by a cruel principal, Matilda needs all the help she can get. DeVito takes a highly stylized approach that is sometimes reminiscent of Barry Sonnenfeld (director of Get Shorty, a DeVito production), and his judgment is not the best in some matters, such as letting the comic-scary sequences involving the principal go on too long. But much of the film is delightful and funny. --Tom Keogh
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: A Nice Movie for Children Comment: "Matilda" is about a small girl in a home more interested in making a sleazy buck than thinking about its children. Worse yet, she is sent to a private school led by an abusive former female Olympic shot-put, hammer-throw, and javelin winner.
The good news is that Matilda develops special mind powers that enable her to free her teacher from the abusive principal and recover her home, as well as free herself from her non-caring parents - to be adopted by her wonder teacher. Customer Rating: Summary: great DVD Comment: The DVD plays beautifully, no glitches. you are able to see the entire movie and it is such a cute movie. Customer Rating: Summary: An Awesome Family Film!!! Comment: I've always loved this film! It's like 'Carrie' for children. Usually once or twice a year, I find this on tv, so I watch it. I have it on vhs, but it's buried under my 7,000 movies. My aunt, uncle, and I watched this recently and they liked it also. They had never seen it. A smart, lonely girl named Matilda has a terrible family who hate her. When they finally let her go to school, she has a sweet sexy teacher named Miss Honey, and a mean principal named Miss Trunchbull. When Matilda is fed up with people mistreating her, she gains special powers where she can move things with her mind. It has an awesome cast, awesome plot, and awesome characters. It's also a childhood favorite. If you love family comedies, you'll love MATILDA!!! Customer Rating: Summary: Family perfect Comment: I have long been impressed with this movie and I do believe that Roald Dahl would be proud of how it turned out. Danny DeVito was brilliant with the story that was properly modernized while still remaining true to the novel. The movie plays like the modern fairy tale it is with stellar acting all-around and perfect story telling. Customer Rating: Summary: America still stands for go for your dream Comment: Having worked and lived in five countries and seen about 4000 movies (at least) in three languages, I can confirm that Matilda shows what America is still made of, the dreams can come true! point.
If you ever doubt of trying for your dream, that movie will show you that with courage, hard work, faith and not giving up that you can do it!
