The 1996 children's film Matilda now sits as a cornerstone of cinema history, celebrated mainly for its heartwarming tale. Some may label it solely as a cult classic, but the flick is unforgettable for several reasons.
One striking element is how Danny DeVito plays two characters in the film. Audiences aren't fully aware that, in addition to portraying Harry Wormwood, the unscrupulous car salesman and father of the central protagonist, DeVito also voices the omnipresent narrator. The thing is, they may be two parts of the same character: the embodiment of God.
Think about it. Harry Wormwood is an all-around odd fellow. Whether it's the bizarre hairstyle, his underhanded sales technique, or his strange relationship with his family, there's something fundamentally off about Harry. He simply doesn't behave like a human being, prompting us to question his very nature.
Consider the Wormwood family's involvement in Harry's immoral schemes. He doesn't shy away from ripping people off or making a profit from others' losses, nor does he pretend to be an upstanding guy in front of them. Harry Wormwood lets it all hang loose for his wife, daughter, and son to see.
Wormwood's actions show a blatant disregard for human decency. He openly exploits people when any typical family man would keep the underhanded nature of their work to themselves. Harry, on the other hand, flaunts his so-called financial savviness to his children.
For instance, when Mr. Wormwood takes Matilda and her brother to his mechanic shop to refurbish clunkers, he demonstrates every which way that he takes advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Harry tries to claim that using super glue is just as efficient as welding parts together. Matilda, however, understands that it's morally wrong and even objects to her father's practices, yet he persists. Harry Wormwood continually tries to justify his actions, and the impression that the audience gets is that he's irredeemable. Mind you, there's a lesson in the father's ill-intended approach.
Assuming Wormwood is an omniscient character in the story as we suspect, orchestrating lessons about right from wrong requires tact. That's why he ignores the wickedness of what he's doing in the moment. Wormwood knows that he shouldn't siphon money from people by selling them worthless vehicles, but he allows the deception to unfold in front of his children so that they can draw their own conclusions about right and wrong.
Deities of all religions, whether monotheistic or polytheistic, operate on the principle that we are independently responsible for grasping the value of life. Religious texts don't merely present directions or commands to follow; people typically have to take an extra step and interpret the messages then reflect.
Harry Wormwood's Emotionless Reactions To Suffering Suggest He's Not Human
Audiences witness the same pattern of behavior from DeVito's character throughout the entirety of Matilda, up until the end.
Despite every abhorrent thing that Harry does in the first 80 minutes, he redeems himself during the final sequence. He willingly signs the adoption papers for Matilda to live with Miss Honey; a surprising move given how self-serving Wormwood's other motivations were. One would expect him to fiercely resist, except he allows her to go without much of a fight. This pivotal moment occurs because, as the omnipresent teacher, Wormwood is done teaching Matilda.
By the film's conclusion, she's learned right from wrong, self-respect, and the understanding that familial ties aren't defined by blood alone. Thus, his job is done.
Allowing Matilda to go proves that Wormwood isn't such a worm, after all. While it takes the entire duration of the film for DeVito's character to redeem himself, that one action paints him in an entirely different light. At that same time, it's much easier to believe he's portraying God instead of a sleazy car salesman.
Matilda (1996) is currently streaming on Netflix.