MATILDA (1996) *** Inspired children's film based on the Roald Dahl book. Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are exceptional as the horrid television-absorbed, dull-normal, felonious parents. Mara Wilson is quite serviceable as the lead, and Pam Ferris is truly horrid, Oscar material, as the school principal (big time asshole). DeVito also does a fine directorial job with bizarre close up and flying camera angles abounding, but not quite often enough to give you a headache. Let's face it, adults are idiots! I don't believe that the Asbury Park lunchbox was in Dahl's original but it's a nice touch.