The story is a special one; it simultaneously invites readers to join Matilda's world and encourages them to seek out the new ones in other books. The film takes this tale, one that relies a heavily on the imagination, and brings it successfully to the screen. DeVito ably directs (and also acts as the narrator), and he seems to have kept a close eye on the original material. He mixes the light-hearted flights of fancy (Matilda enjoying her special gifts, a journey through the library, practical jokes) with darker subject matters (neglectful parents, abusive teachers, incompetent adults). This balance allows Matilda to humorously explore scary situations while relieving the pressure before things get too rough.

The actors have a fine time in their roles. DeVito and Perlman good-naturedly screech and flail as Matilda's inept parents. Davidtz and Wilson both manage to find sweetness in their roles without overdosing too much on the sugar. But the real star is Ferris as the terrifying Miss Trunchbull. Ferris gives her physically imposing and emotionally abusive character an almost over the top performance. She is scary enough to induce real chills but cartoonish enough to ease any anxiety that someone that horrible could actually exist.

Matilda is a fun, but frightening, movie. It comes close to Dahl's masterpiece, but it just misses. Dahl, one of the best writers of children's books, brings a fantastic reality to his Matilda, but DeVito never quite reaches those same highs with his Matilda. But the film often gets close, and it consistently does a terrific job at the difficult task of adapting a children's book.

The DVD special features are divided into five sections: Matilda the Movie Read-Along, Featurettes, Games, Matilda the Movie Character Gallery, and Trailers. The movie read-along is an abbreviated version of the script in book form, and it includes some movie stills. Viewers have the option to read it themselves or for a narrator to read it aloud. It is a fine feature, and it will provide relief for parents tired of their kids watching the same movie over and over again.

The featurettes and games are plentiful and mix clips from the movie with interviews and interactive games. The best of the features is Matilda's Movie Magic, which includes interviews from DeVito, Perlman, Davidtz, among others, on the special effects of the film. It simplifies the technical aspects in a way that makes them easily understandable by viewers of any age. The Children's Guide to Good Manners illustrates what not to do with the horrible behavior of the atrocious adults in the film. Escape to the Library is a short plug that supports the worthiness of public libraries and their wealth of resources. My Movie About Making Matilda is a charming behind-the-scenes look filmed by Wilson herself.

The games are mostly entertaining and will provide some challenges for the little (and big) viewers. A Truly Terrible Test is a trivia game with questions in three categories (mildly annoying, somewhat dreadful, and deviously nasty) that range from easy (What shape has the fewest sides?) to the somewhat challenging (How many planets are in the Solar System?). Winners get a grade from Miss Trunchbull, and losers get Matilda sent to the Chokey. There are a few educational games, including spelling and math exercises, and they manage to incorporate fun into learning. There are also a few games based on the film directly, such as Get Rid of Miss Trunchbull (a surprisingly fun kiddie version of Scene It) and Terrify the Trunchbull (clips of the principal running around in, uh, terror). Routine picture and trailer galleries round out the rest of the thoughtful features.

Matilda is a movie based on a book about a precious little girl who loves books. It is a fine film, and an entertaining DVD, but remember, follow Matilda's example and also take weekly trips to the library. And make sure to pick up the book of Matilda and some other Dahl titles while you are there.

Movie Score: B
DVD Special Features Score: B+
Overall Score: B+