Wonka

Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Calah Lane, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Matthew Baynton, Keegan-Michael Key, Rakhee Thakrar, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Jim Carter
Directed by: Paul King
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
2023

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Willy Wonka (Timothee Chalamet) has dreams to open a candy shop, but runs into criminal competition when he faces off against three established chocolatiers.

Review:

Tim: I really did try to like Wonka. There's a lot going for the film- Roald Dahl's original book is filled with complexity and depth, so getting a Willy Wonka "origin" story isn't as outlandish as you might expect. Timothee Chalamet was inspired casting, as he's one of the best actors of this younger generation. And, Paul King is a talented and experienced director. However, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that none of these ingredients came together in a perfectly pleasing way. There were positive elements here, a taste of what the movie could have been. However, it ultimately feels bloated and distracted. Too much was thrown into the pot. Am I done with my weak food allusions? We'll see.

I should say that this film is perfectly fine for children. My nine year-old son watched the film in theaters and loved it, and he watched it again with me and was definitely entertained. I don't blame him- this was his first exposure to Wonka's fantastic world (we read the book right after finishing the film) and the visuals, the music, the idea of magical, fantastical chocolate is such a cool concept. Of course kids will appreciate it. The film did well at the box office, $218 million and 7th overall for 2023. That's pretty good and everyone involved can celebrate their success.

Here's the thing, though- the movie isn't all that good. As I said, the number of characters is overwhelming. Did we really need Wonka, Noodle, the three chocolatier competitors (yes), all the other random indentured servants, the two crooks who basically trick people into near-slavery, the police chief, visions of Wonka's mother, the various townspeople who get pulled in at various times, the bishop or priest or whatever he was, an Oompa Loompa, and I'm probably forgetting something. Why did we need all these characters? The movie is already a bit taxing at 1 hour, 56 minutes. It felt too overstuffed. We needed more focus on fewer characters.

I have to admit, I felt pretty disappointed by Timothee Chalamet's performance. Wonka is such a fascinating character, but challenging to play. Gene Wilder kind of ruined it for everyone, forever, with his perfect portrayal of Willy. He brought the zaniness but with a hint of madness, a slight shadow that made his performance unforgettable. Chamalet obviously needed to do his own thing here, but I found the character flat. He's grossly uneducated, but Chamalet plays him in a confusing way. Sometimes he's an imbecile and sometimes he's a genius. I never really believed his portrayal. I think Chalamet is more comfortable playing darker characters, more reserved, quiet ones. I love that he took this role because it felt like such a change up from many of his other performances. He needs to challenge himself, to get outside of his comfort zone. That being said, his performance here too often felt forced. He might have been the right actor for the role, but his work leaves a lot to be desired. I can't imagine I'll say that many times throughout his career.

Calah Lane was solid in her role, but there were times when she seemed uncomfortable with her performance. I wouldn't say it was confidently given. Olivia Colman was fun in a nefarious role and she brings energy, hamming it up. I have to admit, I didn't really like her storyline or character. But, yes, she's quite good. Keegan-Michael Key was fine, but a bit over-the-top. Hugh Grant made a good Oompa Loompa, I guess? Although he did look ridiculous. It's interesting this film went with the original design of the Oompa Loompas. I'm still partial to the way they were portrayed in Wilder's film, but I totally get it. Jim Carter and Rakhee Thakrar were solid at times. I liked seeing Sally Hawkins, although she has such a small role in the film. I'm not going to talk through everyone else, there's just far too many characters and they don't make as lasting an impression as they should.

The story here does feel like it takes forever to get going. It's surprisingly darker than you might expect and Wonka faces a ton of setbacks. There's little to celebrate for much of the film, although the characters continue on regardless. I suppose there's some value in seeing characters not giving up in the face of great adversity. I have to admit, though, it wasn't the most fun. I was surprised that the darker tone of the story really felt like it pushed this movie to dramatic territory and the comedy, the lighthearted aspects never quite felt as effective as they needed to be. Sure, none of this is ever bad- this is a decent movie, through and through. I just believe the elements were in place for this movie to be much, much better.

I'm definitely bummed that I didn't like this movie more. I'm a big fan of Dahl's characters and the world he crafted in his books and this one is ripe for many movie adaptations. While I'm glad we got a Wonka origin story and it inspired my son and I to read the book, I didn't see much here that would get me to return to this film again. I'd much rather watch the incredible Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. That's how you do a movie like this. As for Wonka, congrats to its box office success, but audiences of all ages deserve better crafted films than this one. It's not all about the spectacle- you need better storytelling.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG