Wonka movie review

 It’s not another remake. You can breathe. Wonka flows with Hollywood’s more bearable trend in fleecing titles, an origin story for the young Willy Wonka, played by Timothée Chalamet. Director Paul King and writer Simon Farnaby, who collaborated on Paddington 2, pull from their chemistry to show how the chocolate maker built his empire amidst humble beginnings and hostile odds.

The musical

Immediately, the film sets a tone for a more musical-leaning rendition than its’ predecessors. The overall sound design stands tall, from creaky, wooden doors, to giraffes, to the overall score. We meet the protagonist ambitious, but broke, seeking refuge from the dreary streets in a just as dreary rooming house run by the opportunistic Mrs. Scrubbit, (Oscar Winner Olivia Colman). Falling in her debt, Wonka is indentured to forced labor, hindering his aims of sweet magic. 

The set design succeeds, the drab and gray conditions endured by the less fortunate pit against vibrant and elegant backgrounds the elite relish in. This paradigm of inequality is the story’s conflict, many not able to afford sweets, made expensive by the wicked Chocolate Cartel, headed by Mr. Slugworth (Paterson Joseph, The Beach). A corrupt cabal of politicians, police, and clergy stand in the way of Wonka’s dreams. And that’s the backbone of the picture. Dreams. 

Every good thing in this world is started with a dream

Recalling his deceased mother’s words, “every good thing in this world is started with a dream”, this is his compass throughout the film. He wishes to share the joy of his chocolate with the world, and to feel the sensation he felt when he enjoyed them with his mother. He meets young Noodle (Calah Lane, TV’s This is Us) in the rooming house, and the two quickly bond. She too has a dream, to find her parents she has never known. 

The dismal dregs fade once Wonka opens his own store and factory, colorful tones reflecting the mystical realm he invites us into, as well as the promise he inspires. He sees sweets as a “faint ray of hope” to combat life’s woes, but Slugworth and company view him as a threat to their business, and the establishment. 

Predictable criticisms will arise with Chalamet filling the shoes left by Gene Wilder in the 1971 classic, or Johnny Depp in Tim Burton’s stylized portrayal. While this offering leans on the tender side, it should be noted that this is a young, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Wonka, not the grown, whimsical confectionary tycoon with stern rules and a brash temper. Those wanting that arcane mood will be served a more straightforward performance. 

There was no chance they would omit the infamous Oopma-Loompas. Viewers learn the roots of Wonka’s relationship with the little orange man with green hair, played by a dry, witty Hugh Grant. The Oopma-Loompa restores Willy’s purpose after his factory is sabotaged, cursing his “stupid dream”. The pep- talk kicks him into high gear, with Noodle and friends going after evidence of the Chocolate Cartel’s evil doings. He must remind people, as well as himself, not to lose touch with the child they left behind.

Anyone wary of musicals may want to steer clear, as Wonka brings that in a heavy dose. While void of any eerie, otherworldly qualities, the movie doesn’t slump, speeding along under two hours. Ripe for the Holiday season with a golden ticket in tow, Chalamet and crew deliver a palatable and charming watch, sure to make Charlie and Grandpa Joe smile. 

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