Parents' Guide to The Twits

Previous Roald Dahl adaptations have varied in success over the years, but this movie adds a lot of new elements into the source material with mixed results. Fans of the classic 1980 book will recognize the nastiness of the characters and the gross-out humor of The Twits. But in padding out the admittedly thin plot, this adaptation pulls a unique voice into something a bit generic and unexpectedly political. Orphan characters Beesha and Bubsy are likable and come with some great messages about empathy, loyalty, and chosen family, but they also take the author's spiky tone and squeeze it into a modern, cookie cutter mold. The world, grotesque as it still is, is seen through their eyes most of the time, losing its identity even as Mr. and Mrs. Twit retain their dastardly ways. That the Twits are known to be terrible, yet easily convince the townspeople to vote them into power based on empty promises, is a clear reference to modern-day politics. But it leaves the question hanging; who is this aimed at? Kids likely won't pick up on that message, yet there's very little else here beyond a slurry of butt jokes and moral teachings worthy of any after-school special. That said, kids drawn toward the grimy and slimy may well find enough to keep them occupied, and the Muggle-Wumps are undeniably cute. But overall the tone never quite settles and there's a sense of missed opportunity here in making something so specific just a bit too universal.