Wonka

Community Rating

Director: Paul King

Writers: Simon Farnaby, Paul King, Roald Dahl

Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Paterson Joseph

Runtime: 1h 56m

MPAA: PG

Released: December 15, 2023

It is a difficult task to try and create a Willy Wonka movie that in any way lives up to the original 1971 film. With Wonka Paul King has worked magic to tell an origin story for the character that surpasses expectations. Given the talent of King and Timothée Chalamet this maybe shouldn’t have been a surprise, but unimpressive marketing kept expectations low.

The opening scene with Chalamet immediately delights. Any concern about his portrayal of Willy Wonka melts away as the pure fun of the sequence plays out. He makes the character his own by incorporating some small pieces of the Gene Wilder Wonka without trying to do a full on impression. Chalamet’s performance as a young idealistic Wonka is believable and satisfying.

Beyond Chalamet there is an entertaining, if somewhat flat, supporting cast. The one exception is Calah Lane who plays the orphaned Noodle. Her chemistry with Chalamet is great on screen. She becomes a sidekick of sorts to Wonka, providing a warmness of her own to the film. Her story becomes intertwined with Wonka’s in a way that is very satisfying.

The cast of villains in the movie are over the top caricatures. This makes them fun, but not very interesting. Wonka is initially tricked by Bleacher. Played by Tom Davis, he is a henchman for boardinghouse owner Mrs. Scrubitt. She is played by Olivia Colman. Wonka is coerced into working for the pair at the boardinghouse. Both are humorous, but feature no growth. Their best scenes happen after a pair of lederhosen come into play.

There’s also a dastardly chocolate cartel helping hold Wonka down. The one with the most attention is Peterson Joseph as Arthur Slugworth. Some of his history is explained but contributes little except for plot convenience. On the positive side, one scene with the chocolate cartel and chief of police is amusing to watch escalate until resolved by song. It’s actually one of the funniest parts of the film.

A delightful score from Joby Talbot and Neil Hannon keeps the film flowing. Following cues from the original film the music is classic in style. This is a smart way to not only make great music, but also ensure it remains timeless. Importantly Wonka does not rely on favorite pieces from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to win through nostalgia, instead there’s plenty of new works that stand up well on their own.

There are some ups and downs throughout the film. It is a bit on the long side and could have afforded to lose at least ten minutes or so. Along the way there are a few plot points and jokes that leave something to be desired. As is the movie is fortunate enough to progress in such a way that these moments don’t last for too long. There’s always a music sequence, joke, or story line that picks it back up along with vibrant costumes and set pieces. It's just that the valleys are just noticeable enough to keep the film from being as magical as it could.

The good news is the final minutes of the movie are an incredible treat. Main plot lines of the film are wrapped up with wonderful sentimentality. On top of this Wonka leaves the audience on a high note with a beautiful musical section. It is packed with emotion and likely to please those who love the original 1971 film.

It is remarkable that Wonka has managed to be a great movie. While it may not be quite as good as the original 1971 film, it is still an excellent movie well worth a theater viewing. Rather poor trailers hid what is a very enjoyable musical film. Full of warmth and joy, it is perfect for the holiday season.

★★★★☆