Wonka (2023): A Film Review

WARNING: minor spoilers for Wonka (2023)

Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Michael Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Natasha Rothwell, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant

Directed by: Paul King

Runtime: 116 minutes

Rating: PG-13 (very mild violence, some crude language and mild themes)

Release date: 14th December 2023 (Australia), 15th December 2023 (United States)

Sequels/remakes: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Based on: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl

The film tells the story of Willy Wonka (played by Timothee Chalamet), who makes his meteoric rise from penniless but brilliant chocolate maker to celebrated master chocolatier. The movie follows Wonka as he interacts with several characters, including an orphan girl named Noodle, the conniving Mrs. Scrubitt and Bleacher and three master chocolatiers known as the "Chocolate Cartel", as he seeks to establish a chocolate factory of his own in the Galeries Gourmet, which the master chocolatiers control. Along the way, while meeting these characters and many more, he begins to lay the foundations for what will be the famous chocolate factory in the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, as this film is supposed to serve as a prequel of sorts to that one (not so much the 2005 version as that is more of a remake).

My thoughts:

This is a brilliant film. It sets up the 1971 version in such a way that you don't even question how his eccentricity, underlying sociopathic tendencies and general callousness became a defining factor of his personality, because it's so well laid out. I love the introduction of the Oompa Loompas, and Hugh Grant is always a comedy hit. He's utterly hilarious as Lofty the Oompa Loompa, and their little rhyming song will always be stuck in my head. My only gripe with this movie is: how did the Oompa Loompas go from being friends with Wonka to basically being slaves to his every bidding?? Despite that, it's such a beautiful film, and it really should be the gold standard for how to do an excellent prequel. The special effects in the film don't bog down the story, and there's plenty of humour to keep even the younger ones occupied, although they might find Mrs. Scrubitt pretty scary. It's still a wonderful family film, and especially perfect for those who have a real sweet tooth, as well as die-hard fans of Willy Wonka and/or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

It's not essential to watch the 1971 film, although I watched it several weeks before Wonka came out and I found it quite interesting to line up with the Timothee Chalamet version, rather than the Johnny Depp version. If you want to watch a Wonka-themed film, highly recommend the 1971 version. It is a real mind trip, but the Johnny Depp version is more out-of-place and stranger than it is weird. And for the context we're talking, strange and weird are two very different words. The 1971 version is weird in a sinister way. The 2005 version is strange in the slightly whimsical sense, but still with a more disturbing than sinister edge to it.

I love both films equally, except for the 2005 version, as I really don't like that one. But I love the new Wonka prequel and the 1971 version, although I might just prefer Gene Wilder's version that little bit more. His portrayal of the enigmatic and slightly sinister Wonka was truly the blueprint, which is why I happen to think Chalamet's version was a bit too whimsy and fun at times. But I also like to think that's how Wonka was in the beginning. Whimsical, fun and idealistic, a man who simply wanted to make chocolate in the memory of his mother. Before people like Mrs. Scrubitt and the rival chocolatiers began to snuff out that light in him, and give him that more enigmatic side, the side that made him shut down his factory for years before re-opening to the public in the 1971 film for the golden ticket contest.

If you look at the film that way, it truly becomes a fascinating character study of one of the best characters in Hollywood history.

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