DirkH’s review published on Letterboxd:
Part of Dastardly Difficult December: film nr.62
Dahl's dislike of children was probably most present in his wonderfully twisted fairytale Matilda. Sure, the innocence of youth, like always in his stories, wins out, but not before most kids have gone through some torturous circumstances. Kids get locked up in dark cupboards and get physically abused by the evil headmistress here. Walking through this is our hero, Matilda, changing lives of everyone involved as she is a special girl with special powers and the perfect hero for this fairytale.
Now the film is perhaps one of the closest adaptation of Dahl's works ever made. Danny DeVito really understands what the story is all about and gives it a surreal feel, in so far that there is never any doubt that this story is not set in the real world. It is a story with characters larger than life, with supernatural powers and the simplicity of good and evil, no room for grey areas in fairytales!
DeVito's camera is constantly moving, gliding through the action sweeping us along in this wonderful adventure. The casting of every role is just perfect and they all just seem to understand what they're doing, telling a magical children's story that has light, heartfelt entertainment as its sole purpose.
I just cannot resist this film's wonderful charm.