Wonka
Summary
Not every quality needs an origin narration , but Willy Wonka , the character from Roald Dahl ’s 1964 novelCharlie and the Chocolate Factory , gets one inWonka . Directed by Paul King , who co - wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby , Wonkaattempts to bring the whimsical and light - hearted tone that melted our kernel inPaddingtonand its much - dear sequelPaddington 2 . ButWonkais notPaddington , and though it has its merits , an excellent supporting cast , and a few fun melodious number , Wonkawobbles in its journeying and storyline even while remain earnest .
Willy Wonka ( Timothée Chalamet ) is a young and eccentric drinking chocolate maker who ’s excited to open up his chocolate shop in what he conceive is a prime locating . Upon his comer , however , Wonka is chop-chop thwarted by a trio of chocolate sellers — play by Paterson Joseph , Matt Lucas , and Mathew Baynton — who see Willy as contest and have a monopoly on chocolate thanks to their mint with the constabulary headman ( Keegan - Michael Key ) . When Wonka remain the Nox at Mrs. Scrubbit ’s ( Olivia Colman ) , his inability to say the ok print puts him in her debt . Not wanting to go off his debt for the rest of his biography , Wonka joins military group with the orphan Noodle ( Calah Lane ) , and the rest of Mrs. Scrubbit ’s indentured servants ( Jim Carter , Rakhee Thakrar , Natasha Rothwell , and Rich Fulcher ) to win over the town and unearth the devious chocolate Peter Sellers ’ schemes .
Wonkais not a abominable photographic film , but it is n’t specially memorable , either . It ’s got way , and the hair , constitution , costumes , and output design are splendid . They really pop out from vista to scene and give Willy Wonka ’s world a ocular dash and sense of thaumaturgy that is otherwise lack from the film ’s script . The musical moments help oneself bring the film to life , but the storyline are fairly clumsy and lacking in depth . This becomes more obvious asWonkaattempts to tie up loose ends by its finale . And while it ’s a motion picture that does n’t require too much of us as viewers , Wonkais caught between being zany and sentimental without full embracing either . It made the screening experience a unusual one — I want to feel the persuasion and whimsy the film was clearly buy the farm for , but some of it feel forced and rather reticent . It ’s a example of nostalgia being a stronger emotion than the film itself conveyed .
It ’s definitely trying too severe to pull ahead us over with its charm , like a magic trick we ’re wow by , but only if we do n’t recall too much about it .
Timothée Chalamet feels miscast in the role , and though he is businesslike and sweet ( especially to Calah Lane ’s Noodle ) , the role player wears the Wonka case but seldom seems like he ’s to the full embodying the character . It ’s almost as though he ’s wind - toeing around Gene Wilder ’s version of Willy Wonka , and is n’t trusted how to make the part his own . To be sure , Chalamet has his moments , but his execution is n’t as bright or as memorable as it could have been . On the other script , Lane is lovely as Noodle ; she ’s the correct amount of precocious and sorry , but not hopeless . She bring out the best in Chalamet ’s Wonka , and the pair are quite good together .
The rest of the support shape is excellent , though many of them get less to do . Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant are scene - stealer . The former is live it up as Mrs. Scrubbit , and she demand delight in making everyone else ’s lives scurvy . Colman run into the silliness and her rascality with Tom Davis ’ Bleacher are chuckle - worthy . Paterson Joseph as Slugworth is delightfully villainous ; he ’s got flair and actually feels like a bulk large terror against Willy Wonka ’s endeavour . And of course , who could bury Grant and , to a less , but no less funny extent , Rowan Atkinson as Father Julius ? They give the funniest performance of the film . Meanwhile , Keegan - Michael Key is underused and his police chief ’s love of deep brown is not only exploit , but his weight profit is played for laughs .
Timothée Chalamet in Wonka
Overall , there ’s something a bit artful aboutWonka . It ’s entertaining , surely , and the kiddos will especially relish the tarradiddle and the songs immensely . But it ’s also sanitise sentimentality . Wonkalooks great , and it ’s occasionally heartfelt . It can be easy to get caught up in its eccentricities . At the same fourth dimension , it ’s in spades trying too hard to advance us over with its charm , like a magical illusion we ’re wowed by , but only if we do n’t suppose too much about it . Perhaps if Chalamet had been a dependable Willy Wonka , the motion-picture show may have had stronger legs to stand on . It ’s worth seeing with jr. consultation , though , who will ravish in the life of the film , and the vitality of the supporting cast .
Wonkareleases in theaters December 15 . The motion-picture show is 116 minutes farsighted and is rated PG for some fury , mild voice communication and thematic elements .
Wonka is a prequel film to Roald Dahl ’s classical novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and follow the pedigree of the legendary candy maker . From his first encounter with the Oompa Loompas to institute his deliciously magnificent headquarters , Wonka explores the character in a raw Light Within . Timothee Chalamet assumes the part of Willy Wonka himself .
Timothée Chalamet and Hugh Grant in Wonka
Timothée Chalamet and Hugh Grant in Wonka
