THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608060519
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: 60 lines
``MATILDA,'' based on one of Roald Dahl's subversive, dark little books about the world of children (after film versions of ``The Witches'' and ``James and the Giant Peach''), is a surreal fantasy that is hilarious in its extremes.
It may scare the yell out of smaller children, so you'd best know your child. But adults who go, with or without kids, are going to have a howl of a time.
Matilda, as portrayed with great dignity and authority by 9-year-old Mara Wilson (``Mrs. Doubtfire'' and ``Miracle on 34th Street''), is a child genius. As a tiny tot, she scratches her name in her baby food. In no time, she's reading Herman Melville.
Her parents, Harry and Zinnia Wormwood, are negligent, tacky scumbags who hate her intelligence and subsequently ignore it.
Danny DeVito and real-life wife Rhea Perlman portray the Wormwoods. Zinnia, while modeling a cheap-blonde hair-do, is off playing Bingo all day. Harry sells faulty used cars at exorbitant prices. They won't let poor Matilda go to school because ``no one will be home to sign for packages.''
When they finally do her let her attend school, it's a hell-hole known as Crunchem Hall, ruled by the formidable Agatha Trunchbull, a former Olympic shot-putter who specializes in ``disciplining children.''
Matilda, in the style of ``Carrie,'' develops kinetic powers to deal with the adults in her life. Children will cheer when she wins.
The film is stolen by British actress Pam Ferris who, clad in Wagnerian-opera-style outfits, is a comedic horror as Trunchbull. What will children make of her? They'll probably laugh at her, but smaller children may well be frightened. So, in fact, may some adults.
Paul Reubens, formerly Peewee Herman, has a laughable bit as a snoopy FBI agent who comes to investigate DeVito. Embeth Davidtz (of ``Schindler's List'') is Miss Honey, the only adult who is caring.
DeVito, who both produced and directed, showed a fascinating knack for the dark side of life with his memorable ``War of the Roses.'' He takes it to the kids here. Will they survive? An earlier generation, after all, survived the death of Bambi's mother and a more recent generation bore the death of Simba's father. They were emotional experiences. This one is just comedic.
``Matilda'' is a comic gem. It will be a delight for adults, and for most children. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
TRISTAR
Pam Ferris stars as Miss Trunchbull, the cruel headmistress of
Crunchem Hall.
Graphic
MOVIE REVIEW
``Matilda''
Cast: Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Mara Wilson, Embeth Davidtz,
Pam Ferris, Paul Reubens
Director: Danny DeVito
MPAA rating: PG (children threatened, shuttled into dungeons)
Mal's rating: Three 1/2 stars by CNB