The idea of doing a prequel to anything always comes with a risk. The notion of doing a prequel/origin story to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was indeed an odd choice. The thought of doing Willy Wonka without Gene Wilder is almost an impossible task. Wilder touched the souls of many generations with his legendary performance as the chocolate inventor that even despite Johnny Depp playing the role in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it’s some big shoes to fill and that’s a testament to the impact that Wilder had with that one specific role. Nevertheless, it wasn’t so much the addition of Timothée Chalamet playing the lead role, it was when they announced that Paul King was attached to direct the film.
Paul King doesn’t have a lot of work, but at the same time he’s responsible for two of the most perfect family films of the entire modern era with the two Paddington films. The fact that he would potentially bring the same quality to the origin story of Willy Wonka in a musical arrangement should be a winner. In Paul King we trust. Wonka is sparkling with taste, joy and grace by spinning its own mythology down path of richness and chocolatey goodness. Adding the same energy and flavor from his Paddington films, King absolutely crushes it by adding more fantastical elements to this world.
We all love Timothée Chalamet and there’s no doubt about how gifted he is as a performer. With the versatility he has and all the diverse project he’s been a part of, Wonka is an amazing pick to add to his catalogue. Knowing how beloved this character is, it’s always important for any actor to come into the mindset and give it their own persona, technique and tendencies. Will Smith as the Genie, Jared Leto as the Joker or Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka are a variety of example of actors coming in to play a role that was previously acclaimed on all accounts. Love them or hate them, they all brought their own gestures to their roles. Same thing is for Timothée Chalamet. He doesn’t rely on any trait that Depp or Wilder brought to the character. Chalamet found a seamless way to make this specific representation his own and he pulls it off perfectly. But not only is his performance worth the while, the man can sing and pitch better than any actor turned signer.
As for the rest of the cast, you see a mixture of big talents and actors/actresses that have popped up in other Paul King films. The neat aspect about the rest of the ensemble in Wonka is that it combines actors that wouldn’t necessarily fit the style of a musical but you do have actors that fit quite well. Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Colman, Rowan Atkinson, Paterson Joseph and even Hugh Grant were all fantastic in the movie. Even Sally Hawkins, who doesn’t have a ton of screen time in the film, brings a great weight of emotion to the movie that adds more of an emotional attachment to Wonka and his character arc.
That’s really a credit to Paul King to directing his first ever musical and it proves that he’s got a natural footing for telling these types of stories. For this being King’s first musical, he nailed it. It’s got the pizazz of The Greatest Showman, but it’s not just the song and musical style that make it feel so special. It’s the heart and soul that this movie carries that makes it so impactful. It might stand on the same pedestal of Paddington or Paddington 2, but it’s awfully close nonetheless. The best complement you can give a musical is that it gives you the sensation that you’re watching this on Broadway. It’s an overused phrase of positive feedback but it speaks truth. Wonka has the weight and the vibrance of a colorful and staggering musical on Broadway.
We’re coming down to the end of the year and Wonka is placed at the perfect time for the Christmas movie season because it’s a natural and exciting pick for the whole family. It’s important to note that while Timothée Chalamet is taking over the role that was previously played by Johnny Depp, which is a divisive movie, he never phones it in or cribs off of Wilder’s or Depp’s performance. In other words, he’s ultimately playing a different character because the approach is radically different. That said, Timothée Chalamet absolutely nails it. It’s hard to imagine a follow up to Wonka but no matter what Paul King directs next, we have to put it on our radars.
Zane's take at the Cinema's 