Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

The inspirational musical tale of an extraordinary girl who discovers her superpower and summons the remarkable courage, against all odds, to help others change their stories, whilst also taking charge of her own destiny. Standing up for what's right, she's met with miraculous results.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 120 minutes
  • Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
  • Stars: Emma Thompson, Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Sindhu Vee, Charlie Hodson-Prior, Meesha Garbett, Rei Yamauchi Fulker, Winter Jarrett Glasspool, Andrei Shen, Ashton Robertson, Ray Strachan, Ray Strachan, Ray Strachan
  • Director: Matthew Warchus
 Comments
  • RECB3 - 18 January 2024
    A Musical Film That Could Have Been Better
    I am a fan of musical films and I like watching them but this one was not that great all. The crew did not put enough effort in creating this film. The storyline needed some adjusting. The monumental effort by everyone who was involved in this film was clearly seen. The cast selection was alright. It could have been better. They fully committed to the storyline and to the format of the film. This musical film reveals to viewers the strength and courage that everyone can gain from within themselves to do anything that they want to do in life. I do not have the freedom of doing anything that I want to do in life. This is an alright musical film that could have been better.
  • maytemusician - 7 September 2023
    I loved it!
    I've always loved Matilda and the musical of Matilda. This movie really captures the whole story. The songs were done excellently, and the acting, especially Alisha Weir, was incredible! The cinematography was on point, and the choreography was exceptionally well done! The musical feel was definitely preserved in the making of this film. I've watched this movie several times, as I just couldn't get enough of it!

    I did, however, think that the final scene was a bit too over the top. All the extras felt unnecessary. But although that felt a bit over the top, the overall movie wasn't lost, and it's certainly a movie that'll be watched for generations to come!
  • charliebeech91 - 4 July 2023
    Not sure what age I would show this version
    As someone who grew up with the original. Wasn't my favourite but still enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I would should this film until a little later age wise, due to some of the parts which have be changed and maybe not giving the good message the original did. I love a remake but I'm not sure the same message comes across as lesson to learn as a child. Changing schools going to school not liking teachers ect. I could be very wrong however I wouldn't put this version on until there over age the original. It just seems to be a little more revenge driven rather than try to help and miss hunny helping her. I feel this lost in this version a little bit.
  • jpbaxter-64078 - 6 January 2023
    Horrific Adaptation - Poor Messaging for Children and Awful Character Development
    I would give this movie a 0 stars if possible. I can forgive it for containing sloppy music, but the entire story of Matilda has been gutted by this horrendous adaptation.

    The character Matilda was something that thousands of children could connect with; a child growing up within a broken home, feeling disconnected from her family and belittled for her true nature. The humble Matilda discovers, partly on her own through adolescent development, through the guidance of a loving role model (Ms. Honey), and an encounter with a truly maleficent and tyrannical force (Trunchbull), that she is unlike these negative forces surrounding her. She has the power of ultimate good within her which can be used as a bulwark against evil and is capable of triumphing over even the strongest of tyrants. This is a story with an overwhelmingly positive message and one that thousands of children can connect with, potentially helping them through the turmoil and suffering of life.

    This 2022 adaptation comes with a vastly different message. This Matilda is a shadow image of the original character. She has no shred of humility within her and is wrought with anger. She considers herself better and brighter than everyone else. There is a pure evil within this little girl and she actually appears to be quite monstrous throughout the film. She does not stand against the Trunchbull nor her parents with the intent of prevailing the ultimate good against evil, but rather for reasons of revenge and revolution. She uses her powers to hurt, often resorting to violence rather than bold (yet peaceful) opposition. The message behind this Matilda is that one should fight inner turmoil and outward suffering through anger, violence, and chaotic revolution. One does not overcome negative forces and evil in life by becoming their equal, yet this is the lesson that is being taught in this film.

    This adaptation also failed to develop it's characters relationships in any meaningful way. In the original film, Ms. Honey saw herself within Matilda, gaining an empathy for her and a willingness to guide her through what she herself had failed to overcome during her childhood. For Matilda, Ms. Honey represented the supportive parental figure that Matilda desperately longed for and deserved. A good soul met a good soul and combined their light to overcome both their internal struggling as well as the darkness of their external world. There was not a single shred of this in the 2022 adaptation.

    In this adaptation, Matilda and Ms. Honey shared nothing with each other other than a brief scene within Ms Honey's cabin where she explained to Matilda her past, which Matilda has nothing in common with and zero reasons to empathize. The connection between the two was this, "Yes, I too have seen evil, but unlike you I have special powers and am dangerous enough to fight it". Matilda actually spent equal as much time during the film with the librarian as with Ms. Honey, yet we are supposed to believe that they share a deep connection strong enough to garner a Mother-Daughter relationship. This is pitiful.

    To end my review, I can expect nothing with decent messaging, morality, character development, and story-telling to be created by today's Hollywood. Children's stories rarely come with inspirational messages anymore and I consider it a detriment to the world. Gone are the days when an audience can expect great story-telling, character arcs, positivity, decency, and love to come from a television show or movie.
  • jlclua - 3 January 2023
    Well done movie but it has a dark side
    The movie is a great adaptation of the book and we can't deny is a brilliant one. So why is it bad in my opinion? Well I am not a lefty and I am not a naive kid anymore so it is pretty clear to me this is communist propaganda at it's best. So if you are a socialist or you don't mind politics or having your or your children's brains washed you might actually enjoy this one. It puts down values such as family, religion, discipline and brings up others such as revolution and chaos. I don't want to be that person that ruins other people fun but I feel people need to wake up. There is a lot o subliminal messages going on out there, especially in the entreteinment business. Be aware and careful.
  • e-jackson1985 - 1 January 2023
    An ok adaptation with some issues
    Iv seen reviews that criticise the casting. I dont think it was miscast. Actors all seemed to be a good fit in my opinion. The cinematography and the music was great also.

    My 2 biggest criticisms is firstly it felt too long and secondly they didnt focus enough on the development of matildas powers which bought happiness in the book and original movie. Instead it dwelled on the abuse matilda received at school and from her diabolical parents. This felt overly harsh in areas without the reprieve of happiness. Trunchbulls comeuppance for example felt VERY short in the context of the movie length.
  • griffjohnjr - 31 December 2022
    Excellent adaptation
    A wonderful family film with great performances and an excellent soundtrack. My 8 year old daughter is obsessed with this film and it is nice to see her branch out into other genre films besides animated films. Emma Thompson is excellent as the nasty school master. I loved the 90s version but this has replaced it as my favorite adaptation of this classic story. The children are very talented and the film will leave a lasting impression of you love musicals. I went into this expecting to dislike it but ended up finding myself enthralled and singing along with the films musical numbers. An excellent effort by everyone involved.
  • sac-09612 - 29 December 2022
    Let them eat Chocolate Cake
    We're you still singing the tunes the next day? Yes, me too, and it led me down an online rabbit hole of YouTube videos around the topic of Tim Minchin and the making of this film.

    It is a very strikingly multicultural female film; Matilda, her mother (an unrecognisable Andrea Roseborough), Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch, last seen as the fierce Izogie in 'Woman King'), The Trunchbull, and even Sindhu Vee as Mrs Phelps the librarian all dominating the action.

    Arguably my favourite scene was however dominated by the diminutive but rebellious schoolboy Bruce Bogtrotter, taking on the mountainous chocolate cake, at first with a large spoon, then scooping it up in both hands. For those of you who originally found Matilda through the book, we all remember the fabulous Quentin Blake line drawing of Bogtrotters trial and triumph.
  • Ailice - 28 December 2022
    Why did they even make this?
    In truth, I don't understand why they made this rubbish, other than for money. In many ways, this makes me feel sad for children of today. Just think of the magic and innocence and joy and cleverness of the book and the 90s film. It's all lost in this musical version, and it just seems symptomatic for most children's movies and series today. It's lacking, as if the writer/director/producer didn't understand the story, not really, and certainly, as if the craft of storytelling has been truly lost.

    I can't say that one of the actors felt suitable for their roles. I don't want to be too harsch when it concerns children, but I believe the adults involved in this failed them. Ms. Honey is bland and uninteresting, but I think the worst part is what many other users reviews have pointed out: the unnecessary darkness, anger, violence, crudeness, vile language, abuse ... The book and 90s film is humoristically twisted, which makes it work without it being too dark, but this musical version lacks that. It's sloppy and shallow. It's just so ... 2022.
  • Stenian - 27 December 2022
    Musical choreography was over the top. That's why musical theater will never work in film.
    If you're a die-hard musical film fan, you will enjoy this. But if you're not and if you want a film that is more faithful to the book, this movie will disappoint you so badly.

    Let's start with the casting. This Matilda, whilst cute, was too angry and menacing. She had a teenage angst, whereas the actual Matilda was very pure and innocent. And the "revenge" she sought was done in a mischievous manner. In this film, her parents were just background characters and undeveloped. There was also no Michael, Matilda's spoiled brother - Not sure why? I would've instead omitted Mrs Phelps and included Michael instead.

    Anyway, her parents needed much more screentime as they were rather major characters in the book and as well in the 1996 film. Nothing against the good actress playing Miss Honey, but Jennifer Honey was always supposed to be Caucasian. There was no point in changing her race. Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull was brilliant, rivaling Pam Ferris in the 1996 film. The other characters were not that memorable to even be mentioned.

    The subplot regarding Miss Honey's parents doing acrobatics (boring!) and her cruel step aunt didn't have to be included, or at least it didn't have be shown intermittently throughout the film. I really couldn't care less about her past nor her parents. All these scenes with that annoying subplot (which was a flashback) that wasn't even in the damn book, the woodenly acted Mrs Phelps and the protracted musical numbers, pushed the film to an unnecessarily overlong 2 hour mark. This didn't have to happen if it was trimmed down.

    Whilst the songs were not so bad, I cringed at the theatrical dancing choreography - Did the kids have to act out the music with their over the top, theatrical, dance movements? That was totally redundant. It may have worked in the theater, but definitely not in film. Another hugely ridiculous thing was the part when the kids sing whilst they fantasize that they're driving and piloting a plane - What was that all about and how does that relate to Matilda? That scene honestly just made me angry as it was completely superfluous. Another was when Matilda was on a balloon above the clouds singing, rather tediously. These "vision songs" were not suited to this film's tone and atmosphere.

    P. S. The song "Revolting Children" was a brilliant piece. I would've made a non-musical Matilda with that song's melody occurring as the film's theme. And in the credits, they could play the song with its spoken words, like Titanic.