Matilda – ep77 – 1996

"Listen you little wiseacre. I'm smart; you're dumb. I'm big; you're little. I'm right; you're wrong. And there's nothing you can do about it." - Parents to their kids during the 2020 quarantine. Actually, that's a Danny DeVito rant from "Matilda," a charming movie adaptation of the Roald Dahl children's book. Most of the adults in this movie are just awful to poor little Matilda, an adorable six-year-old played by the quintessential adorable 90s kid, Mara Wilson ("Mrs. Doubtfire," the "Miracle on 34th Street" remake). The adults should probably stop messing with her though, because Matilda has Jean Gray-level telekinesis. She can move classroom objects with her mind! Oooooh, ahhh! That's how it always starts. But then later there's running and.. and.. screaming... Danny DeVito directed the movie and also plays Matilda's absentee dad, who is only half as deplorable as Frank Reynolds (still bad), though he and mom Rhea Pearlman are saints compared to Principal Trunchbull (Pam Ferris). Trunchbull throws mouthy kids into a pokey torture chamber and throws little girls across campus by the pigtails. It'd all be deeply disturbing if not for that distinct Dahl whimsy (and some cartoonish stylistic choices). Old Millennials Remember Matilda podcast Angela and Tyler discuss their history with "Matilda" and all the reasons why the film has endured over the years. What makes the story so appealing to kids? Are they aware of Miss Honey's agonizingly tragic backstory? And can impatient and exasperated parents learn a few lessons about how not to treat young children? Or are we all, at some level, as awful as the Wormwood parents? Hey, in our defense, we think we'd at least be able to tell the difference between cops and boat salesmen. Also, remember that kid who dances with Drew Barrymore in "The Wedding Singer?" He gets to eat a giant cake in this movie. That kid rules. Also discussed in this episode The Lovebirds (2020) The Last Dance documentary series (2020) Riverdale TV series