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Matilda the Musical (2022 film)
Sep. 15th, 2023 09:26 amMatilda the Musical (the 2022 film) does a great job of turning Roald Dahl's imaginative children's horror into an uplifting screenplay. The story has a great flow, interweaving Matilda's life with the story she tells to the librarian, and spicing it up with the musical numbers.
The film is not without problems. I was disturbed by the unnecessary fat-shaming in the portrayal of the character Bruce Bogtrotter. This is not the fault of actor Charlie Hodson-Prior, but a failing of the production team that decided to retain Roald Dahl's fatphobia and body-shaming even though they could have at least toned it down just with a simply costume choice (no pillow under the sweater, for heaven's sake). Better still, they should have reworked the character and the cake eating scene to either remove the body-shaming altogether, or to have explicitly addressed and criticized. For a more detailed discussion, click https://fatgirlstraveling.com/entertainment/unpacking-the-fatphobia-in-matilda/
I hadn't seen or heard the musical before seeing the film. First impression: The music is good, often clever, and supports the story well, but mostly didn't stick with me beyond the scene, a notable exception being the rousing "Revolting Children". I might listen to some songs again via streaming, but the music for me wasn't the main draw. It was the emotional journey that was carried by the combination of music, set design, and especially the cast. Alisha Weir does a great job as the titular, intense Matilda, and it is complemented by the performances of Lashana Lynch as the teacher Miss Honey, who brings the necessary warmth and vulnerability, and Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Phelps, who runs the mobile library. Vee grounds the comical relieve she provides in deep humanity, and turned the librarian into my favourite side character. Who blew my mindm however, was Emma Thompson as Headmistress Trunchbull. I didn't even recognize her, yet believed every syllable, every twitch of the corners of her mouth.
The film is not without problems. I was disturbed by the unnecessary fat-shaming in the portrayal of the character Bruce Bogtrotter. This is not the fault of actor Charlie Hodson-Prior, but a failing of the production team that decided to retain Roald Dahl's fatphobia and body-shaming even though they could have at least toned it down just with a simply costume choice (no pillow under the sweater, for heaven's sake). Better still, they should have reworked the character and the cake eating scene to either remove the body-shaming altogether, or to have explicitly addressed and criticized. For a more detailed discussion, click https://fatgirlstraveling.com/entertainment/unpacking-the-fatphobia-in-matilda/
I hadn't seen or heard the musical before seeing the film. First impression: The music is good, often clever, and supports the story well, but mostly didn't stick with me beyond the scene, a notable exception being the rousing "Revolting Children". I might listen to some songs again via streaming, but the music for me wasn't the main draw. It was the emotional journey that was carried by the combination of music, set design, and especially the cast. Alisha Weir does a great job as the titular, intense Matilda, and it is complemented by the performances of Lashana Lynch as the teacher Miss Honey, who brings the necessary warmth and vulnerability, and Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Phelps, who runs the mobile library. Vee grounds the comical relieve she provides in deep humanity, and turned the librarian into my favourite side character. Who blew my mindm however, was Emma Thompson as Headmistress Trunchbull. I didn't even recognize her, yet believed every syllable, every twitch of the corners of her mouth.
