A Look Back at "Matilda" Over 25 Years Later

by Lewis Robinson

Adapting a beloved work of literature for the screen is always a risky procedure. Stick too close to the source material and people will call it derivative and unimaginative. Depart too far from the source material, and people will call it unrecognizable. The stakes are even higher when adapting a work of children's literature because while people are eager to relive a bit of their childhood, they fear having beloved memories usurped or tainted. 

"Matilda," a 1996 movie based on the book of the same time, failed to make a profit at the box office. However, it did make an impression that was mostly positive on audiences as well as those involved in making it. 

Plot

"Matilda" is the story of a precocious young girl named Matilda Wormwood. Matilda has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, but her parents are neglectful and do not appreciate her gifts. Her father is a dishonest car salesman, and because there is no car buying service to help them, his customers unknowingly get cheated. Matilda's mother is a social gadfly with bleach-blond hair who openly scorns academic pursuits. 

Matilda teaches herself to read as a toddler and goes to the library by herself to sign up for a library card so she can read more books. Though initially uninterested in sending Matilda to school, they agree to do so as part of a deal when Mr. Wormwood sells a car to the principal of Crunchem Hall Elementary School, Miss Trunchbull. Trunchbull is a tyrant who has everyone in the school under her thumb, including Matilda's teacher, Miss Honey. 

Miss Honey is the first adult that Matilda has ever met who recognizes and appreciates her talents. She realizes that Matilda is far ahead of the other children in school and appeals to both Miss Trunchbull and the Wormwoods to let her skip ahead several grades, to no avail. Frustrated by the unreasonable restrictions imposed on her, Matilda starts to exhibit telekinetic abilities. She practices and hones these abilities and eventually uses them to impose justice upon the wicked and cruel Miss Trunchbull. 

Justice also catches up with Mr. Wormwood, who has to flee the country to evade the law. Not wanting to leave school, Matilda appeals to Miss Honey, now the principal in Miss Trunchbull's place, to adopt her. Both Miss Honey and the Wormwoods agree. 

Cast

"Matilda" stars Mara Wilson in the title role. Wilson was nine years old at the time but already had an impressive resume as a child actor. The movie is dedicated to her mother who died of breast cancer during filming. Mr. Wormwood is played by Danny DeVito, who also directed and narrates the story. "Matilda" was a passion project for him that he tried to get going shortly after the book was first published. Rhea Perlman, DeVito's wife at the time, plays Mrs. Wormwood. Pam Ferris plays Miss Trunchbull and Embeth Davidtz plays Miss Honey. 

Themes

"Matilda" is based on a book by Roald Dahl. Dahl's books often feature children who are exceptionally gifted surrounded by adults who are not only considerably stupider but often wantonly cruel. Such is the case with Matilda, whose parents are neglectful and whose school principal is abusive. Nevertheless, using her intelligence and resourcefulness, Matilda eventually triumphs over them, speaking to the value of perseverance. 

"Matilda" demonstrates the importance of finding a mentor who believes in you and can guide you in the right direction. It speaks to the importance of finding a support system outside of your family of birth, especially if you are not receiving what you need from them. 

Critics at the time gave "Matilda" largely positive reviews, acknowledging that it made some changes from the book but stating that it still maintained its spirit. It retains positive scores from websites that aggregate film reviews to this day.