Paul King’s Wonka is tragically no Paddington (though few films could ever be), but it’s still a deeply charming origin story in every way. Nailing every beat of an adaptation isn’t always the most straightforward task at hand, especially when doing so in a musical format, and that’s ultimately where the film fumbles, along with the pacing that’s unfortunately all over the place. With these mishaps, the cast saves every convoluting beat, providing the exciting entertainment necessary to keep the story engaging from start to finish.
In actuality, Wonka is at its strongest when King allows the film to be a character study that whimsically dives deep into what makes the factory we know of so crucial to the man. It helps that Timothée Chalamet is genuinely riveting as the character, molding into a version of the chocolate maker we know without trying to mimic the actors who’ve come before him. It also certainly helps that the found family elements within the group at Scrubett’s make it an easily memorable tale for new fans and old. For the most part, Wonka tells a relatively classic rags-to-riches story, packed with a timeless message about the importance of keeping dreams and pursuing them. The narrative’s idea is to the point, but the jarring pacing and tasteless fat jokes provide an unfortunate disconnect during moments when things are going pretty well. Why are we still doing this in 2023? It’s also less than impressive as a musical in the first half, starting to really find its footing better in the second. Yet, all this said, Wonka is still a period well spent in theaters.
The Best Part of Wonka Is Its Effortlessly Charming Cast
Credit where credit is due, Chalamet shines brilliantly, escaping into a role that almost feels tailor-made for him even though others have walked in the velvet coat and top hat, too. We also need to acknowledge Calah Lane’s role as Noodle for the incomparable scene stealer she turns out to be—a character without whom the story itself would be stale and sadly lackluster. The best songs, other than the two classics we know and love, are the ones that feature Noodle. “For a Moment” is an adorably wholesome duet that’ll likely get to sensitive moviegoers, and “Sorry, Noodle” hits like a ton of bricks. The entire zoo sequence, with A+ unbeatable CGI star Abigail, the giraffe, makes for some of the film’s most infectiously joyous beats, providing the kind of magical mirage that Dahl’s story easily evokes for kids. So much of the dynamic and light we see through these moments lend themselves to transformative storytelling that gets the point of second chances across organically.
Wonka, as a character, is indeed someone who relies on the good deeds of others to show character, so an entire group of broken humans coming together ensures that the story will capture the hearts of children and some adults, too. Further, Jim Carter, Rakhee Thakrar, Matt Lucas, and Natasha Rothwell embody their characters with so much heart that there’s not a dull moment with any of them. We could never have too many films highlighting friendships, and when they occur with as much heart as it does in Wonka, then it’s a solid win. Olivia Colman also continues to have one heck of a year, and her performance as Mrs. Scrubett makes it so easy to want to see her as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. Really, the whole cast is just fantastic in what they set out to accomplish, including a standout performance from Paterson Joseph, whose role in NBC’s Timeless is still a big favorite of ours. Last but not least, however prickly, Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa is a glorious hit.
The film soars through one clever heist-like adventure after another while the lore and Wonka’s gifts as a magician lose any sort of explanation. But maybe that’s the point of it all—magicians aren’t supposed to reveal their secrets, but I wouldn’t want to sit with a kid afterward who’s consistently asking “but how” and “but why” relying on us to give them the answer. Pure imagination—that’s it; that’s the answer. We’ve all been tricked into thinking it’s real from day one.
Sometimes, all a film needs to be is a load of fun, and Wonka certainly is with a stunning production design, a compelling group of actors, and a heartwarming story at its center. The faults will be someone else’s most favorite parts, and ultimately, it provides the kind of warm and wholesome ending we could never get tired of. Good people deserve good things, and those who are always looking out for others deserve people who’ll look after them, too. No form of success is enjoyable when one stands alone at the top, and however cliche it might be, Wonka delivers this message adorably.
Wonka is now streaming exclusively in theaters.