ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 3, 1996 TAG: 9608050132
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
Roald Dahl is to children what Stephen King is to adults - a frightening, exhilarating ride into that place where one's worst nightmares and most potent fantasies reside.
It's obvious director Danny DeVito fully understood this when he approached the Dahl story "Matilda," about a gifted little girl who develops her psychic powers to vanquish childkind's worst enemy - fear.
In this case, fear travels in the knee-socked, fireplug-bodied Miss Trunchbull, headmistress of Crunchem Hall, where the motto is, "Use the cane; beat the child." Pam Ferris, who plays this marvelous villainess with not a shade of humor, apparently studied pit bulls for inspiration. Pit bulls on PCP, apparently.
Matilda, played by Mara Wilson (the ridiculously adorable imp from ``Mrs. Doubtfire'' and the remade ``Miracle on 34th Street''), has had some training dealing with cruelty by the time she comes up against Trunchbull. That training has taken place within the garish confines of the ranch home she shares with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman), and one obnoxious brother.
The difficulty lies in the contrast between Matilda's extraordinary intelligence and sensitivity and her parents lack of both qualities. While Dad is out selling bad used cars for way too much money, and Mom's out playing bingo and, apparently, buying tight, tacky clothes, 4-year-old Matilda is walking the 10 blocks to the library. And picking up the ability to solve big math problems in her head.
Her parents don't understand and, therefore, fear her bookish ways and actually force her to watch stupid game shows with them. That's how Matilda discovers that she can do things with her eyes - in this case, make the TV blow up.
It's a skill that will come in handy when Trunchbull runs amok. In one of the movie's finest scenes, Matilda uses a little psychic strength to help a child Trunchbull has thrown from a window, one of the headmistress' favorite, cruel stunts. Just as the child is about to land on the spikes that line the top of the schoolyard wall, Matilda gives her just enough lift to land softly in a field of daisies. The child scoops up a bouquet as she slides softly through the flowers and waves it in triumph at her cheering schoolmates.
Parents unfamiliar with Dahl should be warned: He never pulled any punches about just how cruel adults can be to children. But the scary stuff is so over the top, children will be more amazed than afraid - unless they're toddlers.
The joy of this movie is how Matilda (and some of the other children ) triumphs over those who would hurt her, either deliberately or by simply not understanding her. She triumphs by recognizing and developing her own, unique gifts. Though they may include the magical, her chief gift is her belief in herself. That makes her an inspirational character for all children - and the lucky adults who get to take them to this movie.
Matilda
***1/2
A TriStar Pictures release showing at The Grandin Theatre and Salem Valley 8. Rated PG for some scary stuff. 93 minutes.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Danny DeVito, Mara Wilson and Rhea Perlman star inby CNB"Matilda." color.