The Endearing Whimsy of Paul King's Wonka - Wonka

4/5

A prequel to a classic starring Hollywood's favorite boy (a different title from their many “best boys” in G&E), Timothée Chalamet. On paper, Wonka sounds like just another one of Hollywood’s many recent IP disasters. I, however, went into Wonka with higher expectations than most would expect given the pitch. This was primarily due to the astounding work of director Paul King on his two previous Paddington films (the second of which is arguably a masterpiece). I had hoped that King and co. knew what they were getting themselves into with Wonka and would make the experience well worth my while, and I am happy to report that this dream of mine really did become something great. Wonka is a satisfactory origin story for the confectionary kook of Roald Dahl’s classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with plenty of heart, as I have come to expect from King. The story is, on a base level, not revolutionary. Wonka has a dream he wishes to fulfill, villains try to stop him due to their greed, and Wonka succeeds with the help of his friends. This is a somewhat standard plot for a family film, but the movie is elevated above this with toe-tapping musical numbers, vibrant production design, and some entertaining performances.

First things first, yes, Wonka is a musical. For some that may be a turn-off, but I assure you, there are some truly catchy earworms featured in the film, with many quickly finding a new home in my playlist for Movie music. They do sound overly tuned and mixed like many contemporary movie/TV musicals, but at a certain point, even my nit-picky ear began to look past this and see the beauty of the lyrics, composition, and narrative context. These lovely pieces are complimented greatly by brilliantly choreographed dance numbers and vibrant production design. The heightened, steampunk-esque costumes and snowy London-like city immediately scratched an itch deep in my brain, resulting in me falling head over heels for this world. Your mileage may very based on your love of Victorian-inspired aesthetics, but for me, this was the stuff. Oh, and I cannot forget about the chocolate. Anytime Wonka’s treats were featured on screen, I found myself wishing I could reach into the screen for a nibble (Sadly, however, I could not do this due to the laws of reality, so I had to settle for the Airheads soft bites I bought for way too much at my AMC’s concessions). The clothes were probably my favorite design element (Thanks Doctor Who for making me love overcoats and old-timey outfits from a very young age), but let’s talk about who fills them. I believe this is the first full film of Timothée’s that I have seen. I know, it’s shocking. Even with my lack of knowledge though, I was very worried about his performance once he was announced. Perhaps the reason for my concern and the reason I hadn’t seen any of his films prior are one and the same; I have had this longheld perception of Timothée as merely a young heartthrob for the women of my generation*. Now, maybe I should have listened to the buckets of praise for his many great films and performances in them that came from cinema socials, journalists, podcasts, YouTube, and my friends, but what can I say, I’m both lazy and stubborn. After seeing Timothée so brilliantly embody the young mogul of imagination, I am in awe of the 27-year-old's talents. His emotional investment in the role coupled with the quirky charisma he brings to it sells the entire film. He is no Gene Wilder, but his energy and characterization make it so you can believe that this Willy could one day become that man. The supporting cast of recognizable and fresh British/American faces imbued the film with some light humor while adding texture and a greater connection to the world of the story. Noodle, as played by Calah Lane, is a major part of this narrative, and does sometimes lack the emotional depth one would like. However, she is 1) young and 2) quite far from the worst child actor I have ever seen. She is good enough in this role, even if I would have liked a little more from her in moments.

Wonka is an endearing story about dreams and friendships. As a prequel, it does not detract from the original and instead adds just a little depth to what comes next. With Wonka, Paul King is on a winning streak of creating great family-friendly entertainment. I sincerely hope he continues, because he may be the very best contemporary Director working in this field.

*Maybe I was/am just jealous of Timothée. Who can say for sure?