One of the most anticipated premieres on Netflix in December is a retelling of one of childhood’s greatest classics: Matilda, only this time in a musical version. Directed by Matthew Warchus, the film is based on the same story told in 1996, but has a different look, abusing strong colors and even more cartoonish elements.
Those who watched the first version will identify similar characters in this story; like Matilda’s self-centered parents, who don’t even notice their daughter’s existence or when they do it’s just to say that she is a burden in their lives. In this new feature, they are lived by Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham, in an exaggerated performance – just the way the production asks.
Attention! This review contains spoilers for the movie Matilda: The Musical
Director Agatha Trunchbull, an antagonist famous for making children’s lives at school hell, came to life with Emma Thompson (Cruella), who appeared unrecognizable, in an excellent job of characterization.
Thompson’s performance did not disappoint and she managed to maintain the director’s bad reputation that is feared by all. The highlight is the famous scene in which she throws a student by the hair and when she forces a student to eat an entire chocolate cake. Another interesting moment happens when she is finally defeated by Matilda’s powers.
And, speaking of the protagonist, in this new version such powers are less explored and appear only in the last 50 minutes of the film. Instead, screenwriter Dennis Kelly preferred to focus on his brilliant mind and his ability to read countless books to know the world.
In this way, Matilda, played brilliantly by little Alisha Wier, is even more imaginative and astute, and uses her creativity to create stories and free herself from the clutches of director Trunchbull.
Teacher Honey’s development
One of the narratives created by Matilda It is precisely the life story of Ms. Honey, the charitable teacher who tries to protect the students from the principal’s evil. Despite this fact only being revealed at the end, during the two hours of film we see that the plot also turns its gaze to the life of that teacher, something that did not happen in the first version.
This is definitely a hit Matilda: The Musicalas it shows the audience a little more of the life of this sweet and charismatic character, in addition to enriching the plot and differentiating itself a little from the film of the 1990s.
And if in the first version the character was played by Embeth Davidtz, here she comes to life with Lashana Lynch, in a spectacular and emotional performance. The actress had already shone as the powerful warrior Izogie in The Woman Kingand in this production he embodied an opposite character: kind and vulnerable, showing all his versatility on stage.
Another character that cannot be forgotten is Ms. Phelps (Sindhu Vee), the owner of a traveling library that serves as an emotional support point for the protagonist. Her participation in the story also enriches the plot and is another success.
An (extremely) colorful film
If the characters please, the photography bothers a little. This is because the film is extremely colorful, in an aesthetic that is almost similar to that of the Brazilian painter Romero Britto.
This exaggeration could be pretty, but it borders on tacky, with a mix of colors that don’t fit.
Music for music lovers
Finally, the most important thing to say is that Matilda: The Musical is an interesting retelling for those who like the genre. The film has several songs that help tell the story and appear at different times. There are countless well-rehearsed songs and choreography that will conquer fans and bring a feeling of nostalgia.
However, for those who don’t like this type of film, the work becomes boring and overwhelming at certain times, since almost every scene is interrupted by a song.
Therefore, the film is a good option for those who like musicals and want to watch a work with a taste of childhood. Matilda: The Musical can be assisted in Netflix??
