Wonka Review: A Sweet and Imaginary Tale!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has always been one of the most beloved stories by Roald Dahl, so much so there has been many iterations of the story including 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp. The story has always given tidbits of the origin story behind Wonka, including his relationship with the Oompa-Loompas and Slugworth, how he became a chocolatier, and how he created his empire.

Wonka helps answer these questions with the help of loved Paddington director Paul King. Played by Timothée Chalamet, Willy Wonka is given a new flair for imagination with gorgeous production design and visuals, even if the story is missing that extra heartfelt edge at times.

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Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) travels to a European city in hopes of opening up a huge chocolate shop at the Galeries Gourmet. He finds himself in a sticky situation when he is forced to pay his debts to boarding house owners Mrs. Scrubitt (Olivia Colman) and Bleacher (Tom Davis) where he befriends fellow debt payers, including Noodle (Calah Lane) a little orphaned girl. When members of the “Chocolate Cartel” including Slugworth, Prodnose, and Fickelgruber, discover Wonka’s talent they attempt to run him out of town and make sure he never sells another piece of chocolate ever again.

In true Paul King style, Wonka is imaginative and delightful. The music numbers are foot tapping and choreographed wonderfully with Chalamet delivering a new charm to Willy Wonka, even if it isn’t show-stopping. His performance is solid and joyous nevertheless. Paul King’s direction is fantastic, his roaming camera shots always inviting the audience into a wonderful new world that feels imaginative.

As King has been able to do in some of his other films, Wonka really excels when it maintains the idea that the smallest pleasures in life are what can provide us with the most fulfillment, especially when shared with others. Community is an important element in Wonka, especially those who are not at the top and linger in the shadows.

Seeing how one piece of chocolate shared with family and friends can provide so much joy from scene to scene drives home the vision the character of Willy Wonka has always been known for. Screenwriters Simon Farnaby and Paul King harness the spirit of the story and portray its magic on screen accordingly.

Wonka, as Paul King’s films succeed in, does an amazing job of maintaining a sense of positivity throughout even in the midst of evil and greed. Every villain we meet is meant to prevent our hero from succeeding but they have this cartoonish nature about them that creates for a fun loving story where the dislike of these characters doesn’t prevent the audience from still wanting to follow them.

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The film takes on the idea that we all have the ability to create change and give love to others and if we harness that ability we can drown out those that do not. This is done with a cast of good hearted characters with a simple message at its core in a style Paul King always does so well. Although the film is joyous, it seems to be missing that extra edge that pulls at our heartstrings the way say, Paddington 2 does. However, it makes us want to be better people after leaving the theater, which is great in and of itself. Wonka is an enjoyable experience at the movies with the best intentions at its core.

‘Wonka’ Rating – 3.5/5

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