Danny DeVito is one of those unique individuals that has made a name for himself in Hollywood despite how he looks. He’s by no means an action star or to be listed on People’s Magazine under the top whatever count of attractive people. For guys in general, being under five foot five is already a problem and he stands a whopping two inches below five feet. Yet somehow, this thespian has managed his way into being a very well known, talented and likable actor. Despite having acting credits going back to 1970, he would not be better known for directing until the late 80s to mid-90s. This film is what many early millennials would remember him for. Even though he also had other popular credits to films like Disney’s Hercules (1997), Space Jam (1996) and Batman Returns (1992).
The story to this feature is about a small sweet hearted girl named Matilda (Mara Wilson) who lives under her guardians Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman respectively. The Wormwood adults are dismissive and think of Matilda as a nuisance. However, for whatever reason they feel their son Michael (Brian Levinson) is God’s gift to the world. The Wormwood family in general are not good people either, they steal and are scheming people who look only for their own benefit. That is why when Matilda learns she has special telekinetic powers, they send her to a school where its run by the mean Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris) and sympathetic Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz). The screenplay was penned by Nicholas Kazan (Bicentennial Man (1999)) and Robin Swicord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)).
The origin of this material came from Roald Dahl, the same mind behind Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), The Witches (1990) and James and the Giant Peach (1996). In a way, this film plays off as a more wholesome version to that of Stephen King’s Carrie (1976); both of which involve telekinetic powers but one uses their abilities for good while the other is a ticking time bomb. Conceptually, the story is cute and harmless. Underdog films are the kinds of stories public audiences love because everyone wants the small and disregarded to become successful. There’s only two aspects to the movie that don’t quite make sense. The first being that it is never explained just how Matilda develops or acquires her powers. Where did it come from? Never explained.
However, the stranger aspect is that the story is narrated by Danny DeVito himself. So is Mr. Wormwood recounting his memories? Or is DeVito playing a completely different independent character? It’s a little confusing. Aside from these parts, the story works in its little world. Acting performed by all actors is fun to watch. The comedic moments where Matilda stuns or surprises various characters provides some decent chuckles. Especially for Danny DeVito as Mr. Wormwood seeing that he had it coming from the beginning. The same could be said for Mrs. Wormwood and Agatha Trunchbull who all feel they have ultimate power over all who are under them. Rhea Perlman had worked with DeVito before and would also have a role in The Sessions (2012). Before this movie, Embeth Davidtz would be in the critically acclaimed Schindler’s List (1993) and later in Bicentennial Man (1999).
The camerawork provided by Stefan Czapsky was a little disorienting though. Which is quite frankly surprising seeing that Czapsky had worked on other adequately shot films like Child’s Play 2 (1990), Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Batman Returns (1992). Here though, the camerawork is okay in some places and in others, wide and dutch angles are utilized which just gets annoying to look at. The musical score composed by David Newman however is on the better side of things. Having scored for plenty of other family oriented movies, this fits his type of genre. There’s plenty of kooky sounding cues as well as more sentimental ones needed for those softer scenes. Having worked on films like The Brave Little Toaster (1987), Coneheads (1993), The Air Up There (1994) as well as The Phantom (1996), The Nutty Professor (1996) and Anastasia (1997), it’s no surprise Newman felt right at home here too.
Even though Matilda’s powers never really get an explanation and the camera shots can be a little disorienting, it’s still a decent movie to watch for the family. The cast are goofy in their own ways, good or bad, the music is appropriate and the story is innocent.
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