A delightful movie that is perfect for families at Christmastime
In a year of underwhelming movies, most of them based on existing intellectual properties, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel that shows 'how Willy became Wonka' did not instil much confidence. But Wonka may well be the golden ticket we needed before the end of the year.
Packed full of enjoyable musical numbers and characters both enchanting and hilariously detestable, Wonka manages to recapture the whimsical awe and dark surrealism that came with reading a Roald Dahl book.
Hollywood’s latest poster boy Timothée Chalamet plays a young Willy Wonka, on his way to becoming the world’s greatest chocolatier. While he lacks the wacky mean streak that made Gene Wilder the quintessential Wonka, Chalamet does the necessary in the role, letting the audience in on his love for chocolate and making us care about the character in his more emotional moments.
Based on a beloved property, Wonka could’ve coasted on the goodwill of fans and just been another lazy cash-grab churned out by a Hollywood that is out of ideas. And while it may be that to some extent, being what it is and featuring some pleasing callbacks to the original, Wonka does its own thing for the most part, resulting in a delightful movie that is perfect for families at Christmastime.
Rating: 8/10