With the honour of opening this year’s BFI London Film Festival, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, the film version of Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s hit stage production sprinkles a little big of magic on the autumn get-together for British cinephiles, a wondrous, star-studded adaptation that will delight children and adults alike.
Twelve years on from the musical’s premiere, and some 34 years since the book was first published, Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly’s celluloid version of their West End awards magnet is released amidst a recent outpouring of stage productions being turned into movies. Les Miserables kicked off the more recent slew a decade ago, and since then we’ve been treated to new conversions, including Dear Evan Hanson, In The Heights, West Side Story, and, erm, Cats. While some haven’t quite reached the dizzying heights of their source material, most have captured the essence of what came before. Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is, thankfully, up there with the best of them.
The story revolves around the titled character (Alisha Weir), born unwanted and seemingly unloved by a terrible mother and father – Mr and Mrs Wormwood (a brilliant Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham loving every moment) – who are more interested in sitting in front of the TV than their daughter. The story mainly takes place as Matilda turns five when suspicions arise when she fails to attend school. She’s taken under the wind of Mrs. Honey (Lashana Lynch), who immediately realises that the young child has a phenomenal ability for her age, having read many books even children twice her age haven’t even picked up. Upon discovering this, Miss. Honey mentions to former hammer-throwing school headmistress Mrs. Trunchbull (Emma Thompson) her immense knowledge and confidence. However, Mrs. Trunchbull sees all school children as maggots and is more interested in her pupils toeing the line and following her strict, bordering-on-cruelty rules.
The story follows Matilda’s journey through the early days of the school system, her impression on her young peers and her vivid imagination, all told with style and very memorable music, song, and dance.
Having not seen the source material, I was at a complete level playing field going into the film at the first press screening at this year’s LFF. The film’s fun tone is immediately presented, and soon I was smiling from ear to ear for most of the time. That said, there are some scary bits that may be a touch unsuitable for younger audiences – specifically references to the sinister ‘Chokey’, the rather frightening chain monster halfway through, and also the complete and utterly brilliant, scene-stealing performance by Emma Thompson.
This is absolutely Thompson’s film, owning every scene shes’ in, singing and dancing with the best of them. An image of Thompson grabbing one of her pupils by the pigtails and launching her over the school fence is a particularly memorable moment, along with another sequence where a lizard magically finds its way into her underwear.
The world is skilfully adapted for the screen by the trio of Minchin, Kelly, and director Warchus, with the apparent addition of new works by its composer, and the film’s lengthy two hours belts by at a relentless pace. The cast is exceptional, particularly its lead, Alisha Weir, who is a tremendous talent, outstanding in every scene.
A must-see in the late-2022 film line-up, perfectly positioned for the holiday period for its general release. A to-tapping wondrous piece of escapism and near-perfect adaptation that it is hard not to fall for.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical’
Summary
A wonderful, toe-tapping family affair that dazzles throughout.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical premieres at the 2022 BFI London Film Festival and will be released by Sony Pictures in the UK on 2nd December, and on Netflix in the US on 9th December.
