Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir) is a bright young girl trapped in a neglectful and emotionally abusive home. Her only escape is the mobile library, run by Mrs. Phelps (Sindhu Vee), until her parents are fined for truancy, having never sent Matilda to school. She is looking forward to learning, especially from Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch) but her vindictive father (Stephen Graham) has already called the cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson) and told her what a horrible child Matilda is. Miss Trunchbull sets out to break Matilda's spirit but fails to reckon with the child's nascent telekinesis.
I remember watching the 1996 Matilda with Mara Wilson and enjoying it. The musical was very highly awarded during its Broadway run so I was looking forward to the updated version. Friends, it is not good. There are some major changes to the material that undercut the message, but the worst part is that it's just not fun. 96 Matilda was fun and colorful and had a little girl overcoming adversity with sweetness of spirit (and telekinesis) but Musical Matilda is basically Kidz Bop Carrie.
All the child actors are giving their best. Emma Thompson's transformation to Miss Trunchbull is nothing short of astonishing and Lashana Lynch is perfect as Miss Honey (but Matilda should have ended up with Mrs. Phelps, sorrynotsorry.) It is streaming on Netflix, but 1996 Matilda is on HBO Max and Starz and you should watch it instead.
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