The world of pure imagination was once again brought to the big screen on December 15, 2023, as popular actor, Timothée Chalamet took on the lead role in new film, Wonka. The musical is colorful, whimsical and filled with the youthful spirit that I remember from my early childhood. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, the new movie explores the unique story of how the chocolatier himself came to be. Featuring many nods to the original story, including nearly drowning in a vat of chocolate, a chocolate bar wrapped in a golden cloth, several familiar quotes and phrases and much more. I think that these “Easter eggs’’ were creative, and gave the film a greater connection to the original story.
The film is comical, sentimental, and even thought provoking, addressing the longing global issue of poverty versus wealth. Willy, a young man without a “sovereign” in his pocket, takes on the chocolate industry that seems to dominate the population. Some of the main antagonists include characters, Fickelgruber, Prodnose and worst of all, Sluggworth. These men not only control the production and storage of the fuel in which the town runs on, chocolate, but also seem to hold positions of political authority. Willy decides to challenge this power by starting his own business in which plans to give his customers an experience they have never seen, felt or tasted before; however, he cannot go at it alone. Willy experienced many ups and downs throughout his rise to fame and fortune but always seemed to find the silver lining in each and every seemingly negative conundrum. Even in one of his most challenging situations, he managed to make the absolute best of it by finding his team that made his success possible. This unique group of individuals includes a young orphan by the name of Noodle, who throughout the film creates a special connection with not only Willy, but the audience as well.
As their relationship grows, Noodle becomes not only an accomplice to Willy’s story but also a sense of motivation, as he would never do anything to let her down. Personally, I was a big fan of this sibling-like relationship, I think that it gave the story an emotional angle, unique to the typical juvenile love story. The film concludes with a tear-jerking scene where Willy will finally open the last homemade chocolate bar from his mother. The note within the casing reveals the true “secret ingredient” to the best chocolate in the world. Surprisingly the key to success is not an ingredient at all, but those who you share the experience with. This bittersweet moment made Willy realize both that his mother would forever be by his side, as well as the makeshift family he made throughout his journey.
The film included several well-known actors pursuing small roles including Hugh Grant as an oompa loompa, Rowan Atkinson, the priest and Keegan-Michael Key as the comical cop with a sugar addiction.
In addition, the cinematography, as well as the exquisite sets and scenes gave the film its color that grasped my attention from the beginning to the end. Based in an imaginative town that seems to be a mix of Paris and London, the scenery and architecture was truly gorgeous.
I will say, I do not believe that the story can compare to the previous “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” movies. In my opinion, this new film gave me more of the feeling of your average modern Disney or Pixar story, rather than the wonderfully odd Roald Dahl classic.
With that being said, the film was a delectable treat from the beginning to the end, filled with creativity and wonder as we experienced the endeavors of Willy Wonka, both sour and sweet. Wonka is a beautiful, feel-good story that I would recommend for audience members of all ages with an imagination, and a sense of adventure.