Wonka (PG)
116 minutes, opens on Dec 6
4 stars
The story: Willy Wonka’s (Timothee Chalamet) dreams of becoming a chocolatier begin when his mother (Sally Hawkins) introduces him to an amazing seed called the cocoa bean. Young Wonka travels to Gallery Gourmet, a place that sells the world’s best chocolate, to set up shop. But he meets much resistance from a despicable chocolate cartel.
“Come with me, and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination...”
The song Pure Imagination is an apt opening number for this musical fantasy.
The origin story of Willy Wonka is dreamt up by director Paul King of the acclaimed Paddington movies (2014 and 2017). It is set years before Wonka became the great chocolate magician adored by readers of British author Roald Dahl’s classic book Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
This is the third cinematic iteration of the king of confectionery.
Gene Wilder’s Wonka in 1971’s Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory was colourful and cheery, while Johnny Depp went dark and weird in Tim Burton’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005).
The pressure is on Chalamet to not mess up a beloved character – and he delivers.
The young American-French actor is genuinely charming with his fresh interpretation of Wonka. He delivers a balanced mix of naivety, optimism and wonder in one neat package.
The dandy star looks the part too and, in some ways, he resembles the lanky, spritely Wonka that Quentin Blake illustrated in Dahl’s books.
Chalamet’s singing voice may sound a tad thin at times, but the Oscar nominee, who rose to fame in Call Me By Your Name (2017) and starred in Dune (2021), proves he can hold a tune.
He is supported by a stellar ensemble cast. Oscar-winner Olivia Colman is a hoot as the dastardly Mrs Scrubbit, who cons Wonka into being a lifetime labourer at her laundromat. There, he befriends a group of Mrs Scrubbit’s victims, including the orphan Noodle (an excellent Calah Lane), who becomes one of Wonka’s allies.
British comedians Paterson Joseph, Mathew Baynton and Matt Lucas – who play Wonka’s rivals Slugworth, Fickelgruber and Prodnose, respectively – seem to be enjoying themselves as wicked chocoholics.
Then there is Keegan-Michael Key’s corrupt chocolate addict police chief, who exists to provide comic relief.
Dahl depicted the Oompa Loompas as cynical, sarcastic and funny chocolate-loving miniature beings, and Hugh Grant brings those qualities to the big screen.
But he teeters towards being more annoying than funny, although his Oompa Loompa song is very catchy.
The production design is a marvel, and the cinematography is both beautiful and fantastical. The scene where Wonka introduces his chocolate paradise is pure magic.
Together with the soaring and toe-tapping musical numbers, this latest Wonka gives you both the warm fuzzy feeling and endorphin hit that you get from eating a delicious piece of chocolate.
Hot take: King’s story may be predictable, but all the ingredients come together perfectly to create a feel-good family film.
