Wonka (2023)
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Wonka Movie Review
Wonka is a 2023 musical fantasy family film directed by Paul King and starring Timothee Chalamet. It is one of the best movies of the year.
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“You should stand up to those bullies.
Give ’em the ol’ one two“
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With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers. The original 1971 Gene Wilder movie is a classic, but I also really liked the underrated Johnny Depp take on the character. This newest movie is another unique addition to the franchise as the character and the entire approach to the story is much different and more kid-friendly, which was refreshing in this instance.
It’s also not based on the main Roald Dahl book, but is a prequel to that novel, functioning as an origin story for the Willy Wonka character. As somebody who prefers prequels over sequels, I was delighted to follow Willy in his younger years and to see just what led to him to establish that iconic chocolate factory. The flashbacks with the mother are familiar for sure, but they were still quite heartwarming. We only get to see the factory in the end sequence that was too short, but it worked because it was epic and so much fun. It was a great way to end the movie and I cannot wait to see the sequel.
Timothee Chalamet is a different kind of Wonka. He is more endearing and likable then weird and crazy as Depp was or downright creepy as Wilder was in the role. Thus, all three actors ended up being authentic in their own ways. Chalamet isn’t amazing, but he is very good nonetheless. His singing was unexpectedly solid and I found his interactions with the rest of the gang utterly charming.
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Calah Lane is quite endearing as Noodle, though the character has a somewhat typical backstory, but the two shared a lovely friendship. Sally Hawkins got a very small role, but Hugh Grant stole the movie as the feisty and cynical Oompa-Loompa. All of his moments were genuinely hilarious that I wished that he was given even more to do.
The rest of the good guy gang is somewhat forgettable, though they are an eclectic and charming group as a whole. The villains were much more interesting to me personally as they were ridiculously cartoonish and campy. It was wonderful finally seeing Matt Lucas in a big movie and his character was so funny as was the one played by Matthew Baynton. Keegan-Michael Key was amusing too while Paterson Joseph was delightfully over-the-top and Olivia Colman hilariously grotesque and unhinged.
This Wonka is a musical and I actually liked the majority of the numbers. This is a surprisingly good soundtrack that undoubtedly would not function as well without the visuals accompanying the songs, but in the context of the film itself, they were terrific. A World of Your Own is one of the more memorable songs while my absolute highlights include Scrub Scrub and For a Moment, the former silly and catchy while the latter is gorgeously sung and so elegant. These musical numbers were elevated by incredible choreography and outstanding imagery. In their bombastic nature and overall traditional tone, they pleasantly reminded me of 50s Hollywood musicals, back when the genre was more family-friendly.
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And this is the main thing that makes Wonka great – it absolutely oozes British charm in all corners. We haven’t had a better children’s film than Paul King in quite a while, and although this isn’t quite as great as ‘Paddington 2’, it still came close to that level of quality. King has a knack at genuinely timeless, old-fashioned storytelling. You’d think that this movie was based on a book given that its script is so tight and meticulously detailed.
The world building is absolutely astonishing and there are so many scenes in the movie that were genuinely brilliant in their execution, especially the small moments of magic and some of the superbly constructed slapstick. King is a very cinematic filmmaker as he knows how to operate within this medium to the fullest capacity. The costumes and sets are lavish, the score is beautiful, the dialogue is sophisticated, the humor is so wonderful and the pacing is excellent (it’s a rare movie that gripped me from beginning to end). It evokes that all-ages blockbuster entertainment that we haven’t seen in quite a while and that will never go out of style. I’ve had a smile on my face through and through and I cannot imagine anybody not liking this movie.
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We have to thank Paul King for basically saving the dying art form of children’s live-action movies. His Paddington films were an utter delight and now he’s made a genuinely great Wonka movie that stands on its own and is an instant classic. It has its minor issues with the third act being a bit clunky and standard, but the script is for the most part so tight and creative that you would think that it was based on a previously published book how clever the dialogue is and how smart the humor is. Timothee Chalamet is a different kind of Wonka, one that is more endearing and family-friendly, but he was excellent nonetheless. Other highlights in the cast include Hugh Grant as the feisty and cynical Oompa-Loompa and Olivia Colman, who was hilariously deranged and grotesque. The villains in this movie are amusingly over-the-top and cartoony. The soundtrack is surprisingly strong and the musical elements are accompanied by arresting imagery and excellent choreography. King has a knack at very cinematic, old-fashioned storytelling, which makes his movies truly timeless. As a result, Wonka oozes British charm in its every corner and it’s one of the best movies of the year, one that only heartless cynics won’t appreciate.
My Rating – 4.5
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