At some point in our lives, everyone has come across the story of a small girl (a miracle, if you will) who overcomes an evil headmistress with the help of her enormous brainpower, the kindest teacher in the world, and books, lots and lots of books - whether it's the original 1988 Roald Dahl book, the subsequent American movie adaptation, or the smash hit British musical that went on to become a global success and solidify its place as a theatre heavyweight. Matilda has been with all of us at one point in our lives in one form or another, and now, this Winter, she's back on the big screen to inspire a new generation of youngsters and adults alike that sometimes, you do indeed have to be "a little bit naughty".

Bringing most of the original creative team from the musical back to tackle the challenge of adapting the stage show for film, Netflix have stayed true, not just to what made the stage show a huge success, but the book as well. Its essence is that of the book, a return to timeless storytelling that transcends generations. You can tell that everyone involved with the project has absolute respect for the integrity of the film meaning every frame is the best it can be.

The team are brilliantly aware of adapting stage to screen, and the merits of both. The film makes the most of its use of special effects and location changes (‘Quiet’ is now sung on a hot air balloon and the final confrontation is much more cinematic) yet the emotional heart of the musical is never lost. Tim Minchin's songs have also been elevated once more with wider orchestrations that immerse you within the music.

Matilda herself is played by Alisha Weir and it's not hard to see why, the entire film hinges on her performance and she carries that weight like it's a feather on her shoulders, taking the character in her stride as her own. She has energy like nothing else but is also acutely aware of when to control it, allowing for incredible range from songs like ‘Naughty’ to ‘Quiet’, and works hard to truly earn moments towards the end of the film such as her outburst at Miss Trunchbull.

In fact, much like the stage show, the young ensemble takes centre stage for much of the film in numbers like ‘School Song’, ‘Bruce’ and the ever emotional ‘When I Grow Up’, the latter of which we're particularly glad to see it still finds its place in this film as it truly is a masterpiece of song writing. It's impressive to say, but all these children and there are *many* of them, are already at the top of their game. ‘Revolting Children’ (as many people have already seen on TikTok) is an incredible spectacle of choreography and organisation that fills a country estate. It's staggering what the team have managed to achieve.

The adult cast elevate the children tenfold though, with standout performances from Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey and Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull. They are, in their own rights, forces to be reckoned with. Their performances in this movie often go beyond acting, especially in the pivotal moment ‘My House’ which is delivered with incredible depth of emotion from Lynch and is a highlight of the film.

For many, there are high expectations for this film, due to love for a previous adaptation. But we can wholeheartedly say, Besties, that this project will meet those expectations fully and in potentially surprising ways. Though the US may have to wait a month to catch it on Netflix, if you're in the UK, we thoroughly recommend taking the trip to your cinema!

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Callum Wallace

Matilda the Musical is playing in UK cinemas now.