There are moments in a cinephile’s journey that stand out, and its memory offers a lasting impact on their cinematic journey. One of those moments for this cinephile was the first time Gene Wilder graced the screen in 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. A film that for 20-plus years has remained an essential viewing experience and one I will continue with my daughter.
As the years progressed, the Roald Dahl adaptation received a second adaptation with 2006’s Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, a Broadway musical, and even a Tom and Jerry crossover. As 2023 nears an end, the latest iteration of the character has arrived with Wonka. A film whose trailer failed to create much excitement. Paddington director Paul King and Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet provided an appetite for an everlasting gobstopper of a good time.
To the surprise of no Paddington fan, Paul King’s Wonka is a deliciously flavored treat of pure imagination. An impeccably crafted and charming family film that will fill all cinephile’s taste buds. Wonka is set to be this year’s cinematic holiday stocking stuffer, offering a whimsical journey that explodes with heart, personality, and delight.
Wonka enters the world of a young Willy Wonka as not just a chocolatier but an entrepreneur who arrives in London in a Sweeny Todd-esque fashion with no money to his name but a dream. To his surprise, a chocolate “cartel” is set to stop Wonka from establishing himself as the next great chocolatier at all costs.
Throughout his journey, Wonka meets an array of unique individuals, including Mrs. Scrubbit, the trifecta of London’s chocolate mafia, a chief of police, a corrupt priest, a little orange man, and a charming young girl named Noodles, who all lend a hand, good and bad, in Willy’s adventure.
Co-writer/director Paul King and Simon Farnaby’s screenplay effectively evoke a mix of nostalgia and magic that the original film’s story captures while shining light on the array of new characters.
In balancing the entertaining musical numbers and charm of its characters, King and Farnaby create a world that evokes a childlike wonder Dahl’s story and the original film captured beautifully.
King and Farnaby’s screenplay is brought to life by Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet’s enchanting performance. Chalamet provides an endearing presence that’s not to be missed as he homages Gene Wilder’s iconic take rather than imitates it. Taking bits of what worked for Wilder allowed Chalamet to give his spin on the character that shines bright.
Along with Chalamet, newcomer Calah Lane is a delight as she balances Willy’s wackiness with a subtle yet emotionally satisfyingly delicious performance that gives Noodles the chops to be an ideal sidekick for Willy. In the not-so-subtle category, Academy Award winner Olivia Coleman is a site to behold as her over-the-top caricature of a villain that fits perfectly with the tone of King’s film.
Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa may ultimately be the talking point of the film as he steals the movie anytime he appears on the screen. Rich with sarcasm and hilarity, Grant gives a personality to the character’s unseen before, and yes, the Oompa Loompa song is on display, and it’s to die for.
Composer Joby Talbot and songwriter Neil Hannon do a fine job of creating a lovely soundtrack. While the songs never reach all-timer status as the songs in the original film do, the songs and dance sequences still aid in the wholesome nature of the tone of the film.
Wonka struggles to find reasons for all its characters to exist as some are left on the waste side and ultimately bloats its run time to a near 2-hour mark. There is also a narrative with Keegan-Michael Key that may not work for some as it offers some of the “cringe” reactions of the film.
While flawed, Wonka is a scrumdiddlyumptious treat that will fill cinephile’s desire for stunning production design, costumes, musical numbers, and hilarity. It’s not Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but let’s be honest, not many films are.
