Wonka Review!

Wonka is a celebration, a fantasy musical of dreams woven by Paul King, and the beginning of Roald Dahl’s mischevous character! Dahl wrote the novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 1964. The beloved film that adapted it was Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). It put a stamp on the world of Wonka with the unforgettable performance of Gene Wilder. 

This prequel is still fresh apart from the 1971 movie. Another version followed with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). This film is directed and co-written by King who is known for directing and writing Paddington (2014) and Paddington 2 (2017). Those films were entertaining for adults as well as the rest of the family. Simon Farnaby is the fellow screenwriter who also co-wrote Paddington 2. 

There is the soft keys of a piano that plays “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The song was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. It is an inspiration, but the score by Joby Talbot and Neil Hannon shifts to a new song. This heralds the appearance of Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) on a ship’s mast from the misty sunset. 

Chalamet is returning as Paul Artreides in Dune: Part Two which would have been incredible if both films were out this year. A four quadrant actor with families in this movie and dramatic work with adults in Dune. Wonka sings “A Hatful of Dreams” which made me immediately want to get the soundtrack. He notes that he has spent seven years at sea and has returned to build his chocolate dream.  

Willy Wonka wears his chocolate colored top hat similar to Gene Wilder’s outfit and a red coat like Johnny Depp’s version of the character. The brilliant costumes are by Lindy Hemming who also designed the costumes in the Paddington films. There is cheer in Wonka that makes him endearing even though he is down to twelve silver sovereigns. 

He heads to the Galleries Gourmet holding his chocolate bar with the Wonka wrapper. Wonka daydreams in pink hues of his own chocolate shop, but is charged by Officer Affable (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith). He gives his last two sovereigns to a lady with a baby, his kindness is endless, at the end of the song! Wonka sets his suitcase on a bench with a candle and a cup that he fills with chocolate milk. 

A burly man finds him at the bench, this is Mr. Bleacher (Tom Davis), and offers him a place to stay without pay. Davis played T-Bone in Paddington 2. This is the boarding house of Mrs. Scrubbett played by Olivia Colman. It is a deliciously wicked part for Colman who plays Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown. The queen, herself, had filmed a sketch with Paddington, for the Platinum Jubilee last year. 

Wonka introduces himself as a magician and inventor. Mrs. Scubbett offers a contract for only a soverign the next day for the room. A young girl, Noodle (Calah Lane) tells him to read the small print. Lane has a few acting credits including a 2021 episode of the comedy, Family Reunion. She is a talent to look out for in future projects. 

Mrs. Scrubbett says that Noodle suffers from “Orphan Syndrome.” The papers of the contract rolls out and Wonka signs it. She takes him to his room and then Noodle is thrown into a dark room. The next day, Wonka heads over to the Galleries Gourmet, and has a tiny flag unfold from his cane with his suitcase as a stand to present his chocolates. He draws in a crowd with his chocolates. 

It also gets the attention of another chocolatier, Arthur Slugworth (Paterson Joseph). Samuel Wells is played by Joseph in the drama series, The Boat Story. His fellow chocolatiers are Fickelgruber (Matthew Baynton) and Prudonse (Matt Lucas). Baynton stars as Thomas Thorne in the supernatural comedy series, Ghosts. Lucas is a comedian and played Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016). 

Slugworth tells his assistant, Miss Bon Bon (Freya Parker), to call the police. He greets Wonka with a crushing handshake. Wonka gives the three tycoons his hoverchoc, they identify some of the ingredients which Wonka says is marshamallow, caramel, and cherries from his many travels! Noodle is passing by with her wagon and stops to watch. Slugworth declares that the chocolate is the worst. 

Then, they find the affect of the hoverchocs floating into the air! Wonka explains that the hoverflies have emerged from their cocoons so it is magic through the ingredients. Wonka offers the hoverchocs to the crowd and they start hovering! The Chief of Police (Keegan-Michael Key) arrives with his officers and they start to pull down hovering people. Key plays Josh Skinner in the musical comedy series, Schmigadoon! 

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