Before you Broadway geeks tear me to shreds for not rating this film "high enough", let me be clear that I rather like it.
Based on the 2011 stage-musical take on Roald Dahl's beloved book, Matilda: The Musical is directed with precision and energy, featuring playfully staged song-and-dance sequences that perfectly translate the memorable numbers from the stage version to a world of camera pans and snappy edits. Some numbers are cut a bit too quickly and it is questionable if Bruce should really be played by a kid in a fat suit (just because "it's more like the play that way"), but this was still a joyful film to end the year on.
The casting is quite good too. Emma Thompson (whose makeup is appropriately hideous) is superb as the beastly Headmaster Trunchbull, Lashana Lynch works well as the timid-but-inspiring Miss Honey, Andrea Riseborough's performance (all the more hilarious if you're used to seeing her in slow-burn horror films) is so unapologetically goofy that it made me love her even more, and if you've been on TikTok at any point in the past few months, I scarcely need to tell you about Meesha Garbett's show-stealing "Beret Girl".
Now, what knocks the film down a few pegs is Matilda herself. Alisha Weir is by no means bad, but I doubt we'll remember this performance like we do that of Mara Wilson in the 1996 film. Something is missing to set her apart from other free-spirited child characters.
The climactic "Revolting Children" number is the main reason for you to see this. If there's anything that surely no one will forget about the movie, it's those supremely gifted young extras/dancers/singers, and their "leaders" Bruce and "Beret Girl".
Based on the 2011 stage-musical take on Roald Dahl's beloved book, Matilda: The Musical is directed with precision and energy, featuring playfully staged song-and-dance sequences that perfectly translate the memorable numbers from the stage version to a world of camera pans and snappy edits. Some numbers are cut a bit too quickly and it is questionable if Bruce should really be played by a kid in a fat suit (just because "it's more like the play that way"), but this was still a joyful film to end the year on.
The casting is quite good too. Emma Thompson (whose makeup is appropriately hideous) is superb as the beastly Headmaster Trunchbull, Lashana Lynch works well as the timid-but-inspiring Miss Honey, Andrea Riseborough's performance (all the more hilarious if you're used to seeing her in slow-burn horror films) is so unapologetically goofy that it made me love her even more, and if you've been on TikTok at any point in the past few months, I scarcely need to tell you about Meesha Garbett's show-stealing "Beret Girl".
Now, what knocks the film down a few pegs is Matilda herself. Alisha Weir is by no means bad, but I doubt we'll remember this performance like we do that of Mara Wilson in the 1996 film. Something is missing to set her apart from other free-spirited child characters.
The climactic "Revolting Children" number is the main reason for you to see this. If there's anything that surely no one will forget about the movie, it's those supremely gifted young extras/dancers/singers, and their "leaders" Bruce and "Beret Girl".