Fortunately, the children dance exuberantly in their routines so it’s a pleasure watching them. Wish I were young enough to join in!

But I digress. Time for a film poem about this welcome new motion picture about a youngster who can’t stand things that are unfair.          

Matilda is a late pre-teen

  with two parents who treat her mean.

They don’t know she’s a genius child.

Sometimes her behavior seems wild.

She’s not enrolled in any school

But she reads books and is no fool

She doesn’t need help in spelling

and excels at storytelling.

But when Matilda gets in school,.

She meets a villain who is cruel.

Emma Thompson puts on disguise,

playing this key role may be wise.

  .       

Matilda struggles with that thug,

a woman who no one will hug.

During all kinds of action here

the children sing, dance, jeer and cheer.

A little too long – but what fun!

   You’ll feel exhausted once it’s done.

Without giving any spoilers to viewers who haven’t read the book, I urge them to watch closely when Matilda lists the books she has read even before going to school as well as a scene with a giant chocolate cake.  

I applaud choreographer Ellen Kane (Billy Elliot) for the fascinating dance numbers here.  As a former dancer, I loved the precision and enthusiasm of the youngsters. But wouldn’t be great if at least one tap dance had been added?

It’s important to mention that the music by Tim Minchin helps set the moods needed for a whimsical story like this. And, of course, director Matthew Warchus worked carefully from Dennis Kelly’s magical screenplay adaptation.

Drama, comedy and music. Who could ask for anything more?

Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world. --- Matilda

(Released by Netflix and rated “PG” by MPAA.)