by John Tillyard, Contributing Writer
Taking place before he opens a factory and sends out golden tickets, Wonka follows chocolatier Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet), who arrives in the city to try and pursue his dream of selling the best chocolate in the world. But his mission is made all the more difficult by the greed of the chocolate cartel. After being made to work at a laundromat by the deceitful Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Colman), Wonka must find a way to escape with the help of an orphan named Noodle (Calah Lane). Can the audience be with Chalamet in a world of pure imagination, or do they get nothing and lose?
The first thing to be made clear is that while the character of Willy Wonka first appeared in the 1964 novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this movie is very much a prequel to the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory from 1971. There are many references to things that were seen in the film, but not referenced in Dahl’s novel. For example, there is an Oompa-Loompa (Hugh Grant) depicted as having green hair and orange skin, the same way as in the 1971 film, and something never described in the novel.
Wonka is something other than an origin story for the character, though. Our lead is already a passionate chocolatier when the story begins. This film is much more a story about something that happened to him, and it all takes place before he had a factory. I’ve always felt that’s a better path to take if you are going to make any prequel story. Everyone already loves the character as they are, so they aren’t going to be engrossed in seeing them before they become that character. They want to see more of them as that character and, in this case, how they developed their reputation and craft.
Directed by Paul King, best known for the Paddington films, there is an unmistakably similar vibe seen here through both the visuals and the style of comedy. I love that it’s never explicitly said where or when the story takes place so the narrative can play fast and loose with the world’s technology, culture, and fantastical feel. It’s much easier to accept things like chocolate that makes you fly when you can’t be sure the setting is even our world. That wholesome and whimsical feel to the world of the film and the character can almost make the whole experience enjoyable, regardless of the story. There’s something about the tone of the humor that makes you smile at the charm of it all.
Early on in Wonka’s adventure, he finds himself trying to break out of a place called Scrubbit after foolishly signing a contract with a lot of small print (another callback to the original film). He develops a friendship with Noodle, who has a heart-wrenching backstory. Lane’s chemistry with Chalamet is captivating, and immediately drives you to want to see them succeed in the elaborate schemes they engage in.
Grant is also compelling as an Oompa-Loompa, although the effects are slightly distracting, mostly because we know what Grant looks like, and that he is not two feet tall. But it could also be a simple case of the CGI not being that good, and unfortunately, when CGI is less than perfect, it can be pretty distracting. His role in the story is a little strange, as it’s left up in the air if he’s even real, which leads me to question if he may have been inserted into the story late in the writing process as just a bit of fan service. The story could have worked without him, and given this story takes place before Wonka has the factory where the Oompa-Loompas work, it makes less sense for them to be part of Wonka’s life at this stage. I did enjoy his song and dance number as a fun call-back, though.
Speaking of the songs, it surprised me that this whole thing plays up like a musical, complete with dance numbers, in which the characters have a few cognizant things to say about it, which made me laugh. The songs are manageable, but they do an excellent job expressing the mood of certain scenes or moments. It’s an exciting change of pace from King’s previous film, which gives the adventure more of a Mary Poppins vibe. While the songs and visuals are not as good as Poppins’, they do an excellent job of adding to the overall charming feel.
Chalamet’s performance is only partially up to Gene Wilder’s level. Still, it is undoubtedly a vast improvement on the strange portrayal Johnny Depp gave in the 2005 adaptation of Dahl’s novel. There is almost a feeling from the performance here that this is where Wonka first discovered he loved giving people the experience of chocolate, as much as making it. As he slowly warms up to Noodle, and becomes more of a father figure to her, it helps to show the early elements of Wilder’s version. His performance will be the main sticking point for many people, especially regarding how it compares to Wilder’s. Many will not be able to look past how it lacks the same kind of magical and enjoyably playful feel Wilder gave the role. This story might have worked better if it was about an original character. But of course, then you have the problem of how you even get people to see it without any preexisting nostalgic affection for a beloved character. On a personal level, I liked that Chalamet brought something different to the role. It fits with the idea that the story is a prequel. But this could be because Wilder’s Wonka isn’t the one with a special place in my heart; that place belongs to the Wonka from Dahl’s original novel.
Other noticeable performances are Paterson Joseph as Slugworth, the leader of the chocolate cartel and the story’s main antagonist. There is a chilling and slightly insufferable feel to how he talks and expresses an over-the-top disdain for people with low incomes. He does whatever he wants to stop Wonka from getting in his way, making you loathe him just in the right way. Colman is also a funny side villain with a good balance of slimy nature and a compelling personality.
Overall, Wonka does a decent job recapturing the magic and charm of King’s two Paddington films and the 1971 film it is a prequel to. Sadly, it comes up short of fully matching the overall quality of those films. Engaging in the story and scope of a whimsical advantage is a little more challenging when the main character isn’t a child. However, plenty of striking visuals and quirky characters make this an enjoyable, fun, and lively family adventure and musical.
Rating: Liked It
Wonka is currently playing in theaters
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