Roald Dahl’s adaptations have recently been doing remarkably well. Stephen Spielberg attempted to bring The BFG back to life, but then theatre productions such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda the Musical has managed to bring a new modern edge to those classic children’s stories. Roald Dahl infused his stories with dark adult themes, which was due to his mental health at the time of writing those books, alongside innocence with the protagonists of most of these books being children. I did mention Charlie and the Chocolate Factory earlier, which is arguably his most popular work, and we now have a new adaption of that book, around 18 years since the last version was made with the Tim Burton film. Luckily the timeless nature of the book has meant that the latest film Wonka, feels just as relevant and fun as always.
Wonka is a weird one to explain, because the designs and the spirit of the film takes a lot of inspiration from the Gene Wilder film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, back from the 70s. Saying that however, this is not a prequel, but it does feel like one. This is an original story brought to life by filmmaker Paul King, the director of the Paddington films, and producer David Heyman, who produced the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. The production design, the colours, cinematography, tone and everything about Wonka feels influenced from those Harry Potter and Paddington films. This is not a bad thing, but you do feel their presence a little in key moments of the film. The humour is there, the writing is excellent and the story feels like it is from a world of pure imagination!
Wonka is a young man, played here by Timothée Chalamet. Chalamet has managed to balance the innocence with a sense of maturity that is needed for the character. Chalamet also brings out Wonka’s childness, whimsicality and bright optimism. The film starts as Willy Wonka arrives in an unnamed City that feels Victorian in design and looks, and he has no money to his name. He stays in a hotel run by Olivia Colman’s dastardly Mrs. Scrubbitt, but makes friends with her adopted daughter Noodle, played by newcomer Calah Lane who is a wonderful addition to the cast. Then there’s the evil Chocolate Cartel, who are played by the likes of Matt Lucas, Matthew Baynton and Paterson Joseph. Throw in there a rogue Oompa Loompa played by Hugh Grant, some big show-stopping musical numbers and a backstory involving a mother’s secret chocolate recipe and you have the film Wonka. It sounds like a lot but it doesn’t feel like it.
There’s so many highlights within the film. There’s several very catchy original songs which are still played in a loop inside my head, and Hugh Grant steals the film in his hapless but humorous turn as Lofty, an Oompa Loompa on a mission. Then there is also so many minor things happening in the film too which will make you laugh and smile, like a scene with milking a Giraffe, and then there is Rowan Atkinson’s Priest who has a very fun but minor role in the film too. It is really hard to hate this film which is full of happiness, sweetness and creativity. We have been very lucky to have a year full of positivity in cinema with Wonka joining the likes of Barbie, and we need this film to help balance out the dark and grungy worlds of Oppenheimer and The Hunger Games. Wonka isn’t perfect, but it does try its best and that is good enough for me.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Wonka shares the magic and wonder of the Harry Potter series with the heart and warmth of the Paddington films. It makes sense consider the filmmakers behind those films were involved in Wonka, and despite those influences it feels wholly original, with some catchy tunes, a whimsical performance by Timothée Chalamet and a fun story that feels remarkably British. It blends the childlike tones with the darker themes of Roald Dahl’s source material really well, and as a result I believe we now have a new film to watch every Christmas.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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