Wonka – Pure Cinematic Magic Appealing to Childlike Wonder

1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory has had an interminable hold in the hearts of generations of audiences, so much so that it’s hard to imagine anything trying to go back to that world to recapture that same magic. A large part of that is thanks to Gene Wilder’s legendary performance as the titular chocolatier. That being said, 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a remake that attempted to recapture that magic with Johnny Depp taking the helm as the quirky chocolatier, this time turning the dial to 11. Looking for a place to go next, the minds behind the successful Paddington franchise have gone to the past with a musical prequel to the classic Roald Dahl story simply entitled Wonka. Now with that title comes a clear indication that audiences can expect a lot of Wonka and thankfully, it delivers in spades. While Wilder set the bar, casting Timothée Chalamet as a younger version of the character was a bold choice but it is one that certainly paid off. A film that is more of its own thing, he brings his effortless charisma as he captures the energy and ambition of Wonka in a magical world that will appeal to audiences’ collective imagination.

As mentioned, based on the iconic Roald Dahl story, Wonka is a prequel that tells the story of how Willy Wonka became the man we know today. A young Willy (Chalamet) was full of ideas and energy while determined to change the world with his chocolate. Travelling around the world, he was ready to go out on his own to settle down and make his mark. However, the dreamer was quickly given some perspective seeing that before he could change the world, he had to experience it for what it really was. Undeterred, there was such a magic about him that in spite of whatever adversity was placed in front of him, he would find a way to get through it. Going back to the original 1971 film, audiences have developed a connection to the character that this film only furthers. Appealing to our aspirational nature, it’s easy to go on the journey with him. Greeted with a harsh welcome from the real world, he would learn that he no longer could rely solely on the good nature of others. Finding himself trapped under the thumb of the shady Mrs. Scrubitt (Olivia Colman), he befriended a savvy orphan girl named Noodle (Lane) who was merely one of many under the same circumstances.

The dynamic between Willy and Noodle was easily the best part of the film and was a blast to watch. While Willy was full of ideas and dreams, he needed some help implementing them. All he needed was someone to believe and she was the first. There was just something different about Willy as his eccentric yet hopeful nature and his magical case that harkened back to the sense of wonder he and the original chocolate factory created in the original film. Giving her hope for the first time in her life, vowing to give her a better life, she finally had something to believe in. From there, the two developed a sort of partnership but that partnership was definitely not without adversity. One of Willy’s biggest dreams was to open his own chocolate shop at the infamous Gallery Gourmet so he could share his unique brand of chocolate with the world. However, feeling threatened by this promising newcomer, the owners of the existing chocolate shops had other plans. Colluding together, they routinely exerted their power and special brand of influence against any potential competition to keep lining their pockets. A seemingly insurmountable foe, Willy needed to be creative in capturing the minds and stomachs of the city residents and stay ahead of the Chief of Police (Key).

In order for Willy to have any chance to survive, he and his friends had to somehow take down the Chocolate Mafia. Despite the film’s inherently predictable nature, besides being also a prequel, it was still incredibly fun to watch as one can’t help but believe in and root for him. In contrast to the seediness of the world around him, Willy’s light shone even brighter. Though thin for the most part, all of the film’s comically camp villains were entertaining to watch while essentially serving to prop him up. Wonka was ultimately about the power of a dream and even if the story may not necessarily come together in a satisfying enough way as a result of that thinness, that message should resonate with audiences above all else. Again, a film that is mostly its own thing, it doesn’t forget the source material it is inspired by. Fans of the original film and story will not be left behind here.

Wonka is also a musical and it is no slouch in that department. The songs and the orchestration are each stellar but the well-choreographed set pieces and camerawork bring the musical sequences to another level. Never overwhelming the story, the film strikes a nice balance between the two, just enough to be considered a musical without becoming too obnoxious. Prominently featuring Chalamet and Lane, it doesn’t hurt that they could sing. Meanwhile, on the technical side, King creates another whimsical world full of color and life. The film is absolutely beautiful to look at he has an uncanny ability to tap into the childlike imaginations of audiences in a way that will make it a surefire hit with younger audiences. As far as Willy was concerned, anything is possible though at the end of the day, if there was one word to describe the film, it would be magical.

Rounding things out are its great script and exceptional performances from Chalamet and Lane as Wonka and Noodle. While the casting of Chalamet as Wonka came with some trepidation regarding his ability to carry such a grand spectacle and follow in the footsteps of Wilder, he was more than up to the task in making the role his own. Not an impression of Wilder, he brings much of that energy as his effortless charm and charisma make for a magnetic screen presence that could not be denied. Lane spends a lot of screentime with Chalamet and holds her own with a scene-stealing youthful energy that works well alongside Chalamet’s Wonka. Playing a vital role in the story, their strong chemistry leads the way as the heart of the film. Key’s commitment to the role of the Chief of Police and all that came with it was commendable but one would be remissed to not mention Hugh Grant’s performance as an Oompa-Loompa named Lofty. In what was a small role (no pun intended), he made that screen time count with an unforgettable performance.

Wonka is pure cinematic magic that is full of heart and charm as it beautifully taps into one’s childlike sense of wonder with an exceptional Timothée Chalamet leading the way.

still courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.