Wonka (2023)

Before the golden tickets and Oompa-Loompas, young Willy Wonka was an aspiring chocolatier with big dreams and an even bigger imagination. This origin story follows his journey from a curious boy in a quirky town to a confectionary innovator on the verge of changing the world, one delicious creation at a time. (Bard)

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I love chocolate! And it would seem that the consumption of nearly 7.5 million metric tonnes of it around the world last year indicates there’s a lot of people out there who do too! And who among us hasn’t enjoyed the past movies about Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory? But how did Willy Wonka get to be such a famous character? Director Paul King has the answer in the new Wonka movie.

The performances, costumes, songs, and choreography are all better than they needed to be to make this movie sure to be a hit. Timothé Chalamet, who portrays Willy Wonka, gives the character a youthful charm and eccentric edge that feels new and nuanced.

The world of Wonka is whimsical and filled with vibrant colours, and the candy creations are delightfully yummy! The original songs are catchy and heartwarming. The well-composed songs are seamlessly integrated into the story and add a beautiful touch of magic and emotional depth. Despite my usual distaste for musicals, I found myself tapping my foot along on multiple occasions. Wonka celebrates the power of our imaginations and encourages us to embrace our own unique dreams.

Considering how entertaining Wonka was for the most part, I feel bad about having to criticise it. I’ll have to indulge in the guilty pleasure of chocolate consumption to compensate 😉. Just three things I’ll mention:

Firstly, the story feels a bit rushed sometimes, particularly in the second half of the movie, which leaves some of the character arcs underdeveloped. Second, if you are familiar with Roald Dahl’s world or have watched the original film, you might recognise some of the story’s fundamental plot points. And, finally, while Wonka shines, some of the supporting characters, like the young Oompa-Loompas, could have had their personalities fleshed out.

Leaving those few flaws behind, it is important to mention that Wonka tackles some serious issues! It reminds us that ‘the greedy beat the needy every time.’ It touches on the themes of resilience and resourcefulness—traits we definitely need to develop nowadays. And most importantly, does candy have a point?

Wonka is beautiful and moving, and it shows how important it is to be creative and follow one’s dreams. And it justifies the necessity of chocolate! Despite its flaws (a predictable plot and underdeveloped supporting characters), Wonka is a fun film with a fantastic performance from Timothée Charlamet and is sure to be a hit with families with children older than eight. Lots of grown-ups, though, will be curious to see it as well!

(In cinemas — check your local movie guide for show times.)