Wonka
Prequels are often unnecessary attempts to wring a little more money out of a famous intellectual property. Do we really need to know how Hannibal Lecter became a cannibal? Or how Dumb and Dumber’s Harry and Lloyd met? Or how Willy Wonka opened his chocolate factory? The answer to the first two questions is “Hell, no!” The answer to the third is technically “no,” although Wonka does somewhat transcend the question by finding an enjoyable story of its own to tell. It’s a pleasant surprise.
Timothée Chalamet thankfully hews much closer to Gene Wilder than to Johnny Depp in playing the aspiring chocolatier. He attempts to open a shop in the middle of a fancy marketplace, only to have three rival businessmen conspire to make his efforts fail. They have the local Chief of Police (Keegan-Michael Key) and an influential priest (Rowan Atkinson) in their employ. Meanwhile, Wonka is held hostage by ruthless hotel owner Mrs. Scrubbit (the hilarious Olivia Colman). With the help of orphan Noodle (Calah Lane), he must find a way to escape and introduce his confections to the world. Hugh Grant has a small supporting role as an Oompa-Loompa.
The goofy plot is anchored by a compelling idea. Wonka has access to special chocolates and recipes that contain a hint of magic. Wonka doesn’t over-explain their origins, which turns out to be a wise decision. From the start, we’re asked to accept that he’s a fully formed innovator, ready to revolutionize the chocolate business. This lets the movie dive into its own adventure, rather than waste time on drab exposition. Suspense comes from waiting to see how he’ll outwit the various people trying to foil his ambitions.
Director/co-writer Paul King previously made Paddington and Paddington 2. He invests Wonka with a nearly identical type of whimsical tone. The villains are broadly comedic, the hero’s charm is exemplified, and the moments of action are executed with tongue-in-cheek wit. Believing Willy Wonka and Paddington exist in the same universe wouldn’t be a stretch. Topping it off are lively musical numbers that possess visual spectacle. Because they’re stuffed with CGI, they aren’t quite as enchanting as the ones in 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but they’re still fun to watch, with songs that are sufficiently catchy.
In the middle of everything is Chalamet. The actor brings a nice sense of mystery to the character. His Wonka isn’t creepy and off-putting like Depp’s. Instead, he’s a good-natured soul who simply wants to share his gifts, without giving away his secrets. Chalamet holds together Wonka’s disparate elements, keeping it from falling apart during a couple bizarre stretches, like a subplot about Willy’s illiteracy.
We know going in that the chocolate factory will open. Even without that suspense, the origin story is smart enough to formulate a plot that doesn’t revolve around endless references to what we know lies ahead for Willy Wonka. The hero is familiar. His journey here offers enough joyful, light-hearted entertainment to cast aside that pesky prequel cynicism.
out of four
Wonka is rated PG for some violence, mild language, and thematic elements. The running time is 1 hour and 56 minutes.
