IronWatcher’s review published on Letterboxd:
Watched in the cinema (168th visit in 2023)
"Wonka" is a film that is detached from the previous film adaptations - so no prior knowledge of the character is required. It is true that the visuals and some of the songs are clearly based on "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" from 1971. Otherwise, however, director Paul King's film takes great liberties and has thrown much of Roald Dahl's classic children's book on which it is based overboard. Neither Gene Wilder nor Johnny Depp were really nice fellows in the role of Willy Wonka, let alone great friends of children.
"Wonka" turns the tables in this respect and dispenses with the raised index finger. Instead of nasty comments about the misbehavior of cheeky brats, we get to see a young, naïve Willy Wonka who is far removed from cynicism. Timothée Chalamet sings and dances his way through this fantastic movie musical with big eyes and an even bigger heart, bringing an extra dose of charm to the screen. Of course, the film is also convincing as food porn, with Willy Wonka's wonderful chocolate world making your mouth water so that the audience would love to bite into the incredible delicacies themselves.
The contrast between the lovably naïve Willy and the seemingly idyllic but anything but inviting town is a constant source of witty and absurd moments. There are also laughs and nasty twists from the prominent supporting characters, especially Olivia Colman as the delightfully evil landlady. Hugh Grant as Oompa Loompa certainly takes the cake in this respect.
In a way, "Wonka" feels like a film from another era, with light-hearted songs and dance interludes, a sad orphan story and a colorful team of likeable, quirky characters, as seen in classic family films. However, the movie never feels outdated and fortunately doesn't go down the nostalgia route too much. Instead, witty ideas come into play with Willy's clever inventions, and the upwardly mobile story is also combined with a funny heist movie plot. Sure, the story is quite predictable from the start, but the great images, the absurd interjections and the charming reinterpretation of the main character make this prequel a wonderful fantasy musical for young and old alike.
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