The prequel to Willy Wonka, titled “Wonka,” starring Timothée Chalamet, is a deliciously delightful film.

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In a paper, there is a highly unfavorable concept: a new musical-retelling of the origin story for Willy Wonka, the elusive top-hatted chocolate maker from Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s tale Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In this story, Wonka, who is now in his middle age, decides to randomly give out five Golden Tickets to children, allowing them to explore his secret world of sugary delights. However, with the talented duo of writer Simon Farnaby and writer-director Paul King (known for their success with Paddington), this prequel to Wonka’s story is an absolute delight for the holiday season. It’s visually stunning, creative, charming, and humorous.

Timothée Chalamet portrays a charming young Wonka who ventures to prewar Paris as a man, leaving behind a sheltered life at sea. He is determined to use his mother’s (played by Sally Hawkins) chocolate recipes to achieve success. As a chocolate innovator, he challenges the traditional chocolate industry with his fresh ideas. Despite facing harsh treatment and imprisonment, he ultimately triumphs with the support of newfound companions.

Chalamet has a delicate and mischievous appearance, otherworldly and possessing a childlike innocence and charm – along with a pleasant singing voice – without being annoying. Despite his slim figure, he doesn’t indulge in much chocolate himself, clearly avoiding the consequences of indulging too much. He bravely follows his destiny with cocoa, ultimately facing the villains’ dangerous plot of Death by Chocolate. It makes me wonder, what is in store for Farnaby and King next? Perhaps a prequel featuring CS Lewis’s White Witch as a young girl exploring a “Delight” candy factory in Turkey with wide-eyed wonder?

Hugh Grant steals the show as the original Oompa-Loompa, the protector of the chocolate kingdom who has been digitally reduced to a mere 12 inches tall. He exudes an air of superiority and often communicates through tribal-inspired musical performances. Olivia Colman and Tom Davis play a ruthless couple who tyrannize poor Willy Wonka, while Matt Lucas, Paterson Joseph, and Matthew Baynton shine as the trio of creepy chocolate overlords who resent Wonka’s innovative creations. Rowan Atkinson adds another enigmatic figure to his collection of characters, playing a mysterious priest. Calah Lane delivers a standout performance as Willy’s friend Noodle, and Jim Carter charms as Wonka’s wise ally and financial advisor, Abacus Crunch. Keegan-Michael Key brings humor as the police chief with a sweet tooth, and Phil Wang impresses with a dance number alongside Chalamet.

But what about our previous knowledge of adult Wonka? What caused the addition of sea salt in the chocolate bar? What led him to become the enigmatic and possibly menacing adult figure with a hint of Dahl-like cruelty, who is satisfied with punishing greedy and gluttonous children with a terrible fate? (In reality, Wonka is not too different from another character created by Dahl, the candy-wielding Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.) However, this movie does not address this question and acts as if it never existed. Wonka is simply a kind person. That’s the end of the story.

Maybe Farnaby and King will produce a sequel to Wonka, where our young protagonist faces a slight change that causes him to turn against some of his young, candy-loving customers. I hope not because, even with the added sweetness, I must admit… in a hushed tone… I found this film more enjoyable than the two previous adaptations, starring Gene Wilder in 1971 and Johnny Depp in 2005. It provides an indulgence in chocolate-induced happiness.

Source: theguardian.com