Matilda the Musical – ABC Film Challenge – Catch-Up 2023 – M – Matilda the Musical – Movie Review
Director: Matthew Warchus
Writer: Dennis Kelly, Tim Minchin (Screenplay)
Writer: Roald Dahl (Book)
Cast
- Alisha Weir (Don’t Leave Home)
- Emma Thompson (Stranger than Fiction)
- Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die)
- Stephen Graham (Boiling Point)
- Andrea Riseborough (Possessor)
Plot: An adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical. Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.
Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Matilda starts when Matilda (Weir) has her imagination run wild. However, her parents Mr Wormwood (Graham) and Mrs Wormwood (Riseborough) don’t like her dreams. They reluctantly send her to a strict school run by the ruthless Agatha Trunchbull (Thompson).
Once Matilda starts school, she starts helping her fellow students, with Miss Honey (Lynch) seeing her potential. However, her life is a lot more difficult than others imagined as she is trying so hard to escape the abusive conditions, she is living in.
Verdict on Matilda the Musical
Matilda the Musical is another version of the Roald Dahl book following the adventures of a genius young girl. It follows her as she takes on the biggest bully of all, the headmistress of the school. We see how her family abuse her and her ability to tell a story helps her escape this life.
The singing, all dancing side of this movie does entertain. However, it does take away from the much darker tone the story puts into play. It is strange to see what feels more like a jolly little movie, instead of one about escaping the horrors of her life. This doesn’t mean the performances are bad, everyone is very good, it is more about the musical side lacking the magical feeling the 1996 movie offered.
Final Thoughts –Matilda the Musical lack the magic and horror the story presents.
