REVIEW | Wonka
Timothée Chalamet in Wonka. Credit: Warner Bros. PicturesWritten by Aimee for Theatre and Tonic.
Starring Timothée Chalamet in the leading role, we see the story behind Willy Wonka unfold and discover how he came to own his chocolate factory. After experiencing his mother’s death as a child, Willy finds himself creating chocolate to share with the world in an effort to keep the memory of his mother with him. He travels to a city known for its chocolate with dreams of opening his own shop, only to be thwarted by the evil chocolatiers who control the sales of all chocolate. We see him navigate this difficult journey with the help of some new friends along the way.
There is something magical in the way this film has been produced. Sitting at just shy of 2 hours long it keeps you entertained with every minute and has something for everyone. Whether you grew up watching the original films or reading Roald Dahl books, or if you’re bringing a child to introduce to the world Roald Dahl, this is perfect. It even makes a few references to musicals, such as Les Misérables, for those theatre fans amongst the audiences. It has moments to make you smile and laugh, whilst also packing certain scenes and songs with enough emotion to get you tearing up.
It connects so brilliantly as a prequel to the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory story. We always knew Willy Wonka as this character that was so magical and could do wonderful things but never understood why he did them or how he came to be that way. This film offers you that knowledge to satisfy the curious part of your brain as a child who just wanted to know more about him. Timothée Chalamet could not have been more perfect to take on the role of young Willy Wonka. With the expectations both Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp had created for this character, it felt like Chalamet had a lot to live up to and standards to please the public. He met them swimmingly, and yet still made the character every bit of his own. As the story predates the factory’s existence, he had the opportunity to show a fresh side to Wonka before his fame and success, and that’s exactly what did.
Particular moments that stand out for me are the scenes shared between Wonka and his new friend Noodle (played by Calah Lane). The friendship they share is sweet as they confide in each other about their lives and the struggles they’re facing, whilst working out a way to escape Mrs Scrubit who keeps them (and a few others) trapped inside her hotel. The pair very much feel similar to that of Matilda and Miss Honey, which isn’t shocking given that they are also characters created by Roald Dahl. To add to this Mrs Scrubit equally appears similar to Miss Trunchball in her attitude towards Noodle, often throwing her in a place called ‘the coop’ when she fails to follow the rules, much like ‘the chokey’ in Matilda. The film is littered with references to the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory story, but it’s not in your face obvious. They’re subtle enough that children may not notice them, but for those older viewers who read the book front to back many times, you will spot things that mimic events that happen in clever ways.
When it comes to the songs, they may not be the most memorable musical tunes ever, however, they are very fitting for this film. I didn’t find this to be overwhelming with music, it was a nice balance between having the musical numbers and then scenes to advance the plot. Having never heard Chalamet sing before I was pleasantly surprised by the soft and warming quality of his voice. It wasn’t always perfect, but given his character it never felt like it had to be. Some songs such as ‘You’ve Never Had Chocolate Like This’ and ‘Scrub Scrub’ will be floating around in your head for days afterward, but others can fail to have that memorable quality. Long time fans will be happy to hear the memorable sounds of ‘Pure Imagination’ and of course the iconic ‘Oompa Loompa’ song brought to life once again with a slight twist on them.
I think this film had the potential to either be amazing or completely ruin the magic that the original films created. I can happily say that the former option is true. Whilst it might not be perfect in every aspect, it is every part magical that it needed to be to succeed. The balance of emotion and humour sits in a wonderful place where you can experience both without one being more prominent than the other. If you’re looking for a cosy winter film that has something for everyone then look no further, Wonka is a must see.
