Wonka’s Review

Wonka is the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory without Charlie. It is the prequel of Willy Wonka before he set up his chocolate factory. The movie has Timothee Chalamet as Wonka. Wonka is based on the 1964 novel by Roald Dahl and has been directed by Paul King of Paddington fame. This version of Willy is different from the 1971 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory actor Gene Wilder, who was outlandish, and the 2005 Creep Crazy Wonka by Tim Burton Lee, played by Johnny Depp. Timothee Chalamet as Wonka is sweet, ambitious, and kid-friendly, and he is someone who loves to sing and tap dance.

In today's time, we are seeing numerous movies being made. There have been movies, sequels, and prequels, season after season. In such a scenario, we see the release of Wonka. The movie Wonka was released on 8th December 2023 in the United Kingdom and on 13th December 2023 in the United States.

A Quick Glance at the Facts of Movie Wonka

Director: Paul King

Screenwriters: Paul King and Simon Farnaby based on Roald Dahl’s work

Running time of the movie: 1 hour and 56 minutes

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Keegan-Michael Key, Calah Lane, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Paterson Joseph Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins, Olivia Colman, Jim Carter, Hugh Grant, Rich Fulcher Natasha Rothwell, Rakhee Thakrar, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Tom Davis.

The movie was made on a budget of 125 million dollars and has till now earned a total collection of 43.2 million, which is expected to rise with the release in the United States.

Moreover, Chalamet was also nominated for Best Actor in Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the recent awards of 81st Golden Globe.

Wonka: Plot and Pacing

The movie Wonka emulates the poverty of the Dickensian age, as is reflected in Dahl’s book. At the beginning of the movie, Willy arrives on a boat in an unnamed capital full of chocolates and dreams of becoming a renowned chocolatier and setting up his own business.

Willy calls himself not only a chocolate maker but more, something of a magician and an inventor as well. He learned the art of chocolate making from his late mother (Sally Hawkins); she also, despite being poor and facing extreme difficulties in her life, never failed to satiate his cravings. He also used to do some magic tricks to impress his mother. He shared a lovely bond with her. His mother has also promised him that she would be present beside him at the time of his success.

Wonka: The Entry of Galleries Gourmet

In the capital, He tries to sell his chocolates and earn a living. The chocolates are of great quality. The three crony capitalists of that place who are the owners of the cartel, Galleries Gourmet, also taste his chocolates, and they soon get its taste. After tasting his chocolate, they don’t want him to become his competitor. For this, they also bribe the police (Keegan Michael Key), who is a chocolate lover, to dissuade and disable Wonka, even killing him for standing in front of them as competition. The trio of the crony capitalists adds a layer of fascination. Further, they are guided by the corrupted priests. This group of corrupted priests is led by Rowan Atkinson as father Julius, who is a chocoholic.

Strains of Troubles in Wonka’s World

He also gets signed into a deceptive contract by the cruel authority of Mrs. Scrubitt (Olivia Colman) and Bleacher (Tom Davis) to work for endless years in a dungeon. There, he meets his other inmates, too. He becomes a very good friend to one of the girls there, Noodle (Calah Lane). He, along with her, tries to escape the trio of the capitalists of the chocolate cartel: Slugworth (Paterson Joseph, Fickle Gruber (Mathew Baynton), and Prod Nose (Matt Lucas).

Some of his friends include a plumber named Piper Benz (Natasha Rothwell), an accountant called Abacus Crunch (Jim Carter), a comedian, Larry Chuckles Worth (Rich Fulcher), and a former telephone operator named Lottie Bell (Rakhee Thakrar). If successful, he would sell his chocolates, pay his debts, and would be able to afford his freedom again.

Wonka is in More Trouble

But now he is confronted with an even more villainous scheme with a more exclusive preserve, an Oompa Loompa who is nicknamed Lofty (Hugh Grant). He is an orange humanoid who is small enough to be trapped in a bottle. Hugh Grant adds a touch of irony to his character. It is very delightful to watch him.

Wonka: Songs and Soundtrack

Wonka has some of the best music compositions by Joby Talbot with the enjoyable lyrics of Neil Hannon. The simplicity of the music aligns with the music which is for its young and adult audience alike. The songs Pure Imagination and Oompa loompa from the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory are also featured in the movie Wonka. Lindy Hemming has designed one of the most colorful and mesmerizing costumes.

Wonka: Final Thoughts

But one question is there, and that is, do we need a prequel of Willy Wonka? Was there a need to tell the backstory? But from this movie, it is clear that Wonka doesn’t need a sequel. It's certainly a heartfelt and heartwarming family movie that is brimming with elements of joy, hope, and magic. One of the strongest characteristics of the movie is the heartwarming and deep friendship between Noodle and Willy. The message is also clear from this movie that you can achieve your dreams if you are determined and passionate about your work.