Dan Smith / Netflix
- "Matilda the Musical" is a fun, extravagant movie that empowers children to know their worth.
- The film is based on a Broadway show of the same name, itself adapted from Roald Dahl's book.
- Emma Thompson's performance as villainous headteacher Miss Trunchbull stands out from the rest.
"Matilda the Musical" succeeds where many recent movie musicals have failed: blending the magnificence of theater with the realism of film.
Movie musicals are not afforded the same suspense of disbelief as stage musicals, yet too many focus on making the story real. This leaves the musical performances feeling disorienting and boring.
By contrast, from the start of Matthew Warchus' adaptation of the Roald Dahl children's book, which has been performed on stage for almost 12 years, the audience is thrown into the magic of musicals and childlike imagination.
While I am not entirely sure whether "Matilda the Musical" is better than the iconic 1996 adaptation, starring Danny DeVito and Mara Wilson, the new adaptation shines in its own right as a fantastic movie for all ages.
Alison Weir holds her own as a new version of Matilda, a leader of the children's revolution
Dan Smith / Netflix
"Matilda the Musical" retells the famous Roald Dahl story with some significant changes. Matilda Wormwood is a child genius underappreciated by the world around her, including her family. This is until she meets Miss Honey, the one teacher aware of her brilliance and keen to help her show it to the world.
Other iterations of "Matilda" have presented the character as a sort of mischievous genius held back by the bullying adults around her. Alison Weir does a brilliant job presenting a more defiant Matilda, aware of her own power and unafraid of rules. Her pranks are moral vengeance against the corrupt adults and the school system around her.
When she arrives at Miss Trunchbull's (Emma Thompson) school, she goes toe-to-toe with the cruel, hypocritical headmaster, and in turn encourages the students around her to also rebel against the dream-destroying rules, with multiple dazzling and hectic musical numbers.
The film's main breakaway from the novel is by expanding the role of Mrs. Phelps (Sindhu Vee), a librarian who shows Matilda the world of literature in the original novel. In the movie, Matilda is a storyteller and visits Mrs. Phelps to tell a thrilling story that comes to life on screen. At times, this becomes a weird distraction from the main plot but perfectly pays off in the end.
The movie also creates a touching connection between Weir and her Miss Honey counterpart, Lashana Lynch.
Lynch departs from her usual action roles ("The Woman King" and "No Time to Die") to play the timid, encouraging teacher who finds her voice by defending Matilda.
Overall, the pair's chemistry is relatable and heartwarming.
Emma Thompson's Agatha Trunchbull is a performance that all should watch
Dan Smith / Netflix
Miss Trunchbull is undoubtedly the most entertaining piece of the movie, and Thompson seems to have a blast playing the iconic villain.
Thompson is menacing and larger-than-life but never feels cartoonish as she stomps through the school halls.
Thompson's solo numbers are brilliant, especially "The Smell of Rebellion," in which her hulking Trunchbull bullies Matilda and her colleagues in a way that is both terrifying and hilarious.
Thompson also believably humanizes the character, if such a thing is possible, showing her fear of losing control of her students.
The production designers, David Hindle and Christian Huband, and costume designer Rob Howell also deserve praise for heightening the fear of Miss Trunchbull.
The new adaptation's version of the famous "Chokey," the claustrophobic room filled with nails that children are locked in as punishment, feels like something out of a horror movie, and the school itself often looks more like a prison or military compound than an institution for education.
Meanwhile, Trunchbull's costume, from her rotting teeth to her bulky military uniform, is equally amazing and revolting.
What matters most is that "Matilda the Musical" is certain to win over children this Christmas, just like the Broadway show in 2010 and the book for decades.
Move over Danny DeVito. The new generation's "Matilda" is an all-singing and all-dancing extravaganza empowering children to know their worth.
"Matilda the Musical" premieres on Netflix on December 25.
Emma Thompson redefines iconic villain Miss Trunchbull in 'Matilda the Musical'
Source: Kalayaan News
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