Netflix’s The Twits arrives as the streaming giant’s first animated Roald Dahl adaptation, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from a focus-tested, family-friendly production. The film has genuine heart and delivers an important empathy message for kids. But does it have the bite, originality, and sophistication adult viewers crave? That’s more complicated. Let’s break down what works, what doesn’t, and whether this animated adventure deserves your weekend.
Table of Contents
The Twits Quick Verdict: Should You Watch?
| Aspect | Rating | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| For Young Children | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent lesson on empathy |
| For Families | ⭐⭐⭐ | Wholesome but occasionally flat |
| For Adults Alone | ⭐⭐ | Limited appeal, expected humor |
| Visual Style | ⭐⭐⭐ | Creative but compromise-heavy |
| Voice Acting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Margo Martindale, Johnny Vegas shine |
| Overall Experience | ⭐⭐⭐ | Does its job, nothing revolutionary |
| Best For | Family viewing | Ages 7+ with parental guidance |
The Plot: From Dahl’s Novel to Netflix Adaptation
Director Phil Johnston (former Disney writer) adapts Roald Dahl’s 1980 classic about Mr. and Mrs. Twit—history’s meanest, smelliest, nastiest people who own Twitlandia, an OSHA nightmare of an amusement park.
The Netflix version reimagines the story through orphans Beesha and Bubsy, who get caught in the Twits’ schemes. As the couple rises to power in their small town, political parallels emerge that’ll resonate with adults—two incompetent idiots gaining authority and influence. However, the film largely sidesteps this deeper commentary, opting for escalating hijinks aimed at younger audiences instead.
What Works: Heart and Important Messaging
The Empathy Lesson: Johnston successfully imparts that the world contains both magic and idiots in equal measure—and both deserve compassion. In today’s political landscape, teaching children empathy and understanding toward those they disagree with is genuinely important.
Voice Performances: Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas deliver charming vocal performances as the titular villains. Their chemistry carries the film through slower moments.
Visual Balance: The animation blends Tim Burton’s gothic design with Nickelodeon’s slimy, grimy aesthetic. The “yukiness” appeals to children without crossing into genuinely disturbing territory—a genuinely difficult balance to achieve.
Slapstick Humor: Wordless, physical comedy translates globally. The film executes decent slapstick without excessive cleverness, making it accessible worldwide.
What Doesn’t Work: Compromised Vision
Focus-Tested Mediocrity: The humor feels diluted, reduced to safest possible elements. There’s no spontaneity or risk-taking. Every joke lands predictably because the film never attempts surprises.
Limited Adult Appeal: Adults watching alone will find little to engage with. The visual style, intentionally softened for children, lacks sophistication. The Muggle-Wumps (magical monkeys) clash visually rather than complement the darker aesthetic.
Shallow Thematic Exploration: Political commentary about idiots gaining power could deepen meaningfully. Instead, it remains surface-level, serving only to escalate stakes for young protagonists.
Animation Industry Context: In a post-Spider-Verse landscape where animated films prove they can be ambitious, The Twits feels like regression. It’s passable children’s entertainment rather than innovation.
The Bigger Picture: Where Animation Stands
Hollywood’s reluctance to fund ambitious animated features creates a vacuum. Films like The Twits fill that gap competently, teaching lessons effectively. Meanwhile, films like Spider-Verse and Bluey demonstrate animation’s potential for depth and sophistication.
The frustration isn’t that The Twits exists—children need accessible, lessons-driven content. The frustration is that resources seem disproportionately allocated toward straightforward children’s fare rather than ambitious animated storytelling.
Who Should Watch?
Perfect For: Children ages 7+, families seeking wholesome entertainment, Roald Dahl adaptation completists
Skip If: You’re seeking sophisticated animation, adult humor, or narrative innovation
If You Like: James and the Giant Peach, Chicken Run, The Willoughbys—you’ll appreciate The Twits
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Final Verdict: A Solid Children’s Film, Nothing More
The Twits succeeds at its mission—teaching children empathy while entertaining them. Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas deliver charming performances. The animation finds creative balance between appeal and safety.
However, it doesn’t break new ground. It won’t become a cult classic or award-sweeper. It’s straightforward, competent children’s entertainment that teaches lessons effectively.
That’s valuable work. But it’s not revolutionary.
Stream The Twits on Netflix for family viewing. For more film reviews and streaming recommendations, explore TechnoSports’ Entertainment Coverage! 🎬✨
FAQs
Q1: How faithful is The Twits Netflix adaptation to Roald Dahl’s original novel?
A: It captures Dahl’s core spirit—wickedness, justice, and ultimately, the triumph of good—but reimagines plot elements significantly. The original novel focuses solely on the Twits’ meanness and children outsmarting them. Netflix’s version adds orphan protagonists Beesha and Bubsy, creating a more traditional hero’s journey. The amusement park concept is Netflix’s invention rather than Dahl’s. The film honors Dahl’s moral foundation while modernizing the narrative structure. Readers expecting page-for-page fidelity will notice changes, but Dahl fans will recognize his essential voice and values throughout.
Q2: Is The Twits appropriate for very young children, or does the grotesque content scare them?
A: The Twits deliberately balances grotesqueness with safety. The character designs are intentionally “yucky” (gross in a silly, non-threatening way), but deliberately softened from Dahl’s genuinely disturbing descriptions. The visual style aims for gross-out humor rather than genuine horror. Most children ages 7+ should handle it fine—it’s less genuinely scary than standard kids’ animated films. However, extremely sensitive children might find Mr. and Mrs. Twit’s meanness troubling. Parents should consider individual child sensitivity levels. As a general rule, if your child enjoys typical animated villain behavior (Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Cruella in 101 Dalmatians), they’ll handle The Twits comfortably!
