If you take one moral away from “Matilda,” it’s that you should never steal a piece of chocolate cake from the principal of your elementary school.

Ever.

I’m only half kidding about this – “Matilda” is chalk full of cutesy, heart-warming life lessons. If you’ll allow me one bad pun, this one takes the cake. I won’t spoil the scene for future viewers, but let’s just say I won’t go near chocolate cake for at least a few weeks.

The chocolate cake scene aside, “Matilda” was one of my favorite movies as a child. It brings to mind classic songs like “Send Me On My Way” and “Itty Bitty Pretty One” and memories of cuddling with my parents in my footie pajamas. In fact, “Matilda” was pretty much the only movie my dad would watch with me more than once.

Originally a children’s book, Danny DeVito’s film adaptation hit theaters in August 1996. It tells the story of a child cursed with inattentive parents but blessed with the power of wit beyond her years. Matilda’s parents leave her home alone most days and she uses the time to read everything she can get her hands on – books, magazines and even the phone book.

Eventually Matilda’s parents enroll her in school at Crunchem Hall – only about half a year later than they were supposed to – but Matilda’s dream of the classic elementary school experience is dashed when she meets the evil headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.

Miss Trunchbull’s niece, Miss Honey, is a teacher at Crunchem Hall and is the complete opposite of her aunt. Miss Honey and Matilda become fast friends.

Matilda soon learns her advanced intelligence is more than it appears – she can actually move objects with her mind. The young protagonist uses her power to deter the FBI from her crook of a father and break into Miss Trunchbull’s house to retrieve some of Miss Honey’s long-lost family treasures.

Still, Matilda must figure out how to break Miss Trunchbull’s clutches on Crunchem Hall and find a family who loves her.

If you were born in the ‘90s and haven’t yet seen this movie, it’s time to change that.

For those of you who have, let’s be real – we all sometimes wish we were still kickin’ it in the ‘90s. Take a trip back to your childhood and watch one of the “Matilda” showings this weekend.

“Matilda” will play at 7 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Woodland Theater in the Davies Center.