"Wonka" is a trifle lacking in charm and pure imagination

Wonka (2023)

As an origin story of how the eccentric chocolatier came to be, “Wonka” is a reminder that, in some cases, not every character needs one. It’s far less interesting to see how the sausage (or chocolate) was made, and moments of joy and pure imagination are just few and far between. This shouldn’t be, seeing as how it’s from writer-director Paul King and co-writer Simon Farnaby. King has given us two of the warmest, most sincerely funny, and perfectly delightful family films with “Paddington” and “Paddington 2” (which Farnaby also co-wrote), and if you ever meet someone who doesn’t like either one of those films, you shouldn’t trust them. It gives me no pleasure to report that “Wonka” is more of a charlatan of magic than the genuine article. 

A musical adaptation of Road Dahl’s book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” 1971’s “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” stands as a classic for good reason. Made 52 years ago, it’s still vividly designed, musically memorable, a little nightmarish and off-center, and genuinely magical. Many still whine about Tim Burton’s 2005 reimagining of the material with “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (the original title of Dahl’s story), but at least that film was wonderfully weird and visually dazzling, while giving us an entirely “different” Willy from Johnny Depp. With “Wonka,” the magic feels manufactured and false in a film that strains incredibly hard to be wacky and magical, only to end up feeling frantic, shrill, and annoying. 

Before a single golden ticket, let alone a chocolate factory, Willy Wonka was penniless but wide-eyed and just learning how to make the best chocolate in the world. One night after journeying all over the world for cocoa beans, Willy finds a place to sleep and hang his hat. Unfortunately, the inn is run by the horrible Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Colman) and her right-hand dunce Bleacher (Tom Davis). (Mrs. Scrubbit comes across as a mix between Ms. Trunchbull and Miss Hannigan, the first of several “Annie” similarities.) By failing to read the fine print of a contract, Willy is indebted to work in their laundry prison. He still finds a way to sneak out every day to try and sell his chocolate, with the help of Scrubbit’s other indentured servants, dubbed the “Washroom Gang,” and orphaned moppet Noodle (an adorably plucky Calah Lane) whom Scrubbit allegedly just found in the laundry shoot as a baby. Standing in Willy’s way, however, is “The Chocolate Cartel,” compromised of three sniveling businessmen, Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas), and Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton).

Timothée Chalamet has proven time and again that he is one of those once-in-a-generation talents, but his portrayal of a younger Willy Wonka in no way suggests that he would grow up to be Gene Wilder’s Wonka. Chalamet certainly looks the part in the magenta coat and top hat, courtesy of Lindy Hemming’s costume design (one of the film’s notable achievements), but lacks the inviting showmanship and borderline-sinister edge of Wilder or even the creepy innocence of Johnny Depp’s take. This Wonka never feels like an actual character, just a wacky, gee-whiz fool who thinks his chocolate don’t stink; it’s actually too bad King didn’t direct Chalamet to go a little stranger. Read the full review at GuyAtTheMovies.com

Grade: C -

Warner Bros. is releasing "Wonka" (116 min.) in theaters on December 15, 2023.