Wonka

Movie Name: Wonka
Year of Release: 2023
Director: Paul King
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Olivia Colman, Tom Davis, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Freya Parker, Keegan-Michael Key, Jim Carter, Rakhee Thakrar, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Rufus Jones, Natasha Tothwell, Rich Fulcher, Colin O'Brien, Sophie Winkleman, Dominic Coleman, Charlotte Ritchie, Phil Wang, Robyn Rose
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Musical
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review

After making a name for himself with the "Paddington" series, writer/director Paul King has ventured into illustrating the adventures of another iconic literary character, in this case Willy Wonka, one of the creations of Roald Dahl (who created this character specifically in 1964 as part of the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). This particular take on the character is in a way a prequel to the adventures Wonka subsequently has with Charlie Bucket and all the other children. This narrative focuses on young Willy Wonka who arrives on a thriving European city after exploring the world for a while. He's eager to start his own chocolate shop, something that he was influenced by his mother. Though he initially strikes a chord with the people of the city, he is also met with resistance from the three main chocolatiers who monopolize that business and who want to keep it that way. Willy, in need of a place to stay, ends up signing a contract with the sneaky Mrs. Scrubitt (mistakenly drawn in by her henchman, Bleacher). The contract basically forces him into hard labor, something he soon realizes has been her tactic with a series of people who are trapped in her web of deceit. Willy becomes fast friends with everyone, in particular with the young Noodle, who has been with Mrs. Scrubitt since she was a baby, doing hard work all the time. Noodle has no idea of who her parents are. They devise a plan which allows Willy to start selling Chocolate all over town without getting caught, and they also manage to do so thanks to the collective skills from his newfound friends, and Mrs. Scrubitt victims. However the Chocolate mafia isn't willing to give up so easily, and they resort to shady tactics to get back at Wonka.

"Wonka" takes a different approach to what Tim Burton and Johnny Depp did with their "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" adaptation (which was also delightful). Paul King deliberately crafts a musical that traces the tribulations Willy Wonka has to go through, but also one that emphasizes the delight his creations bring to the city and its inhabitants. It's a film that is just as visually enchanting as Tim Burton's version of this universe was, but in this case the narrative is more focused on how an idealistic young man can change the world simply by sweetening it with chocolate (and other treats). While the central character here, Wonka, is described as a hero who is seeking to reconnect with his lost mother, but also someone who is ambitious and confident in his talents (at first glance), the remainder of the characters are actually very similar to the ones that typically pepper Roald Dahl's storylines. For instance, Mrs. Scrubitt seems like a decal from Ms. Trunchbull from "Matilda", while Noodle can actually pose for a similar type of hero as Charlie Bucket, Matilda or Sophie (from "The BFG") actually were in their respective storylines. All this to say, most of the supporting characters are indeed sketches, but they're sketches with something unique to them, something that gives them some dimension and relevance. They all make a good support for the magic Willy is trying to impart on the city. Paul King is successful in creating this particular universe, one that feels frozen in time, but also instantly recognizable: he creates a fantasy scenario of a city that could have easily existed in the 1940s or 1950s (when Roald Dahl was experiencing much of what inspired his stories). The musical numbers are superbly choreographed, and feature wonderful music and lyrics (the songs hail from the partnership of Neil Hannon and Joby Talbott, who have been working together for years on Hannon's musical project, The Divine Comedy). The cast is uniformly excellent with Timothée Chalamet creating an idealistic and hopeful character with ease and charisma, with wonderful support from Olivia Colman, Jim Carter, Matt Lucas and Hugh Grant. The production team is equally fantastic, including Chung-hoon Chung's cinematography, Nathan Crowley's production design, and Lindy Hemming's costumes. Worth watching.