‘Wonka’ – Review
The festive season is upon us, and there’s no better time to head to the cinema and get swept up in the musicality and magic of the enchanting and energetic Wonka. And it’s an utter delight.
This irresistibly vivid and inventive big screen spectacle will introduce audiences to a young Willy Wonka, chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time—proving that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.
For many of us, the classic tale of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory holds a very special place in our hearts. Gene Wilder’s incredibly magical performance continues to inspire audiences, both young and old, the world over, while the magic of Roald Dahl still mesmerizes each new generation. Now celebrated filmmaker Paul King, who wowed audiences with his Paddington adaptations, charts a new course for the character of Willy Wonka and takes audiences on a galivanting gourmet getaway with Wonka, which charts how famed chocolatier Willy Wonka became the sensation we all know and love.
King makes this film for both young and old, bringing to life a vividly bright and storybook-styled world to life as he realizes the world of Wonka. With its array of pastel colours composed against its old-world gothic setting, Wonka is a film brimming with nostalgia and the beat and texture of classic Hollywood musicals. Both song and dance collide with a creative script, charming dialogue and cracking comedy, resulting in a film that will transport audiences into another world. King has a charming talent for direction, and he utilizes the style and tempo of Roald Dahl to maximum effect as he brings this incredible journey to life. Both the nostalgic delight and modern production mix together for a very special watch, and audiences, young and old, will find something to fall in love with this picture.
Rising Hollywood A-lister Timothée Chalamet has repeatedly proved himself to be a natural performer. He’s an actor who has complete control of the cinematic stage, and his performance as Willy Wonka is no exception. In the role of Wonka, Chalamet beams with joy as he prances about the street, and you feel the imagination and enthusiasm that lies at the heart of Willy. Chalamet’s performance is that of the eternal optimist, and he makes Willy always see the best in every situation, and his zany mannerisms and inventive quick-thinking always help him out of any jam. Chalamet has an immense amount of fun with the role, and audiences will be spellbound by his audience.
But Wonka is not Chalamet’s film alone, and a collected cast of some of Britain’s best talent makes their mark on the picture. Academy Award winner Olivia Coleman and comedian Tom Davis are unscrupulously wicked as Mrs. Scrubbit and her dim-witted assistant Bleacher, and Chalamet also finds himself tackling the twisted and fiendish Chocolate Cartel made up of the nefarious Arthur Slugworth (Paterson Joseph) and his loathsome compatriots Prodnose (Matt Lucas) and Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton). But Willy doesn’t have to face these dasdastardly villains alone, and he’s joined by his friends in the Wash Gang, including Jim Carter as Abacus Crunch, Natasha Rothwell as Piper Benz, Rich Fulcher as Larry Chucklesworth and Rakhee Thakrar as Lottie Bell. And finally, Hugh Grant makes his presence known as the snarky and opinionated Oompa-Loompa Lofty. All of the cast hit their mark in Wonka, and they each add to the fun and liveliness of the picture.
From start to finish, Wonka is a delectable cinema delight and a perfect treat for this holiday. Everything about this movie comes together, and it is filled to the brim with a wild wizardry of wondrous whimsy that makes for a picture of pure imagination.
Image: Warner Brothers Pictures
