To Willy Wonka, chocolate is no mere sweet treat. It’s a religion, something that will elevate you and change your day, your mood and your life. That belief is encompassed in Timothée Chalamet’s hysterically infectious performance. As Willy, he embodies boyish sweetness with a touch of sadness, missing his late mother (played in flashback by Sally Hawkins) who instilled in him a love for chocolate-making. Chalamet delivers lines with a pure, heartfelt baritone, fully committing to phrases like “Put your hand inside your pock-elet, get yourself some Wonka chocolate!” And it’s not just the character who radiates wholesomeness; it’s Chalamet himself, almost to an excessive degree.
In “Wonka,” the vibrant, flawlessly staged and nostalgically captivating musical prequels the original Roald Dahl tale. The young chocolate enthusiast arrives in London after a seven-year journey around the globe exploring distant lands for rare delicacies to elevate his candy’s taste. At the Galleries Gourmet, a lavish gallery where one can purchase the finest chocolate in the world, the aspiring young Willy envisions opening his own shop. His dream includes a small cabinet stocked with rare flavorings and bottled potions, essential ingredients for crafting his uniquely peculiar sweets. Among these creations are eclairs with the power to rejuvenate hair follicles and polychrome gobstoppers that induce “delightful” hovering. With recipes for fairytale-like creations and a distinctive long purple coat, vest, ascot and rumpled top hat, he is driven by one dream: to uplift the world by sharing the wonders of his candy with everyone in it.
I think this adaptation is one of the best uses of creativity through its inclusion of bizarre and unbelievable elements, which is precisely tied together with its fascinating characters and brilliant storylines. It wonderfully pays homage to the musical, book and film, carefully incorporating elements of all while adding unique moments of its own. The single Oompa Loompa was a great example of this, avoiding overuse and justifiably skipping the need for a chorus of them. Having one Oompa Loompa references the earliest text and is adapted to the new version creatively, giving it a new sense of humor and originality.
As for the lead actor, Chalamet, I think he gives a special and beautiful tribute in his own performance of Mr. Wonka to Gene Wilder. Chalamet is quickly becoming one of the finest young actors working today, with other hit films such as “Little Women,” “Call Me By Your Name” and “Dune” under his belt.
Wonka is meticulously designed to produce joy. Between Keegan Michael Key’s ‘Chief of Police’ character categorically gaining an obscene amount of weight during the film, and the Giraffe invading the church which is confused for the apocalypse, the film is consistent and never has a dull moment. It’s full of sugary life from start to finish and is one of the most imaginative, artistic and creative films for all ages.
