Wonka

 

I loved this movie! Wonka is a musical fantasy telling the origin story of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory empire. It follows his journey to London, the friends he meets along the way, and his troubles with the “Chocolate Cartel” who are trying to drive him out of the city. This is exactly the type of movie that I needed following a hectic exam season. It was so funny, weird and whimsical. This movie really put me into the holiday spirit. This movie had me smiling uncontrollably. It’s the perfect movie to go see in theatres and escape into the wonderful world of Wonka.



This is an incredibly star-studded cast and honestly, I can't think of anyone better to play these characters. Timothee Chalamet is great in this movie, I didn’t know what to expect and if he would be able to fill the shoes of past Willy Wonkas. However, I feel like he kind of created his own interpretation of the character. He didn’t have to be like them, he could do whatever he wanted with the character. I found that there is a youthfulness to the character that has not been explored like this before. I also liked that they gave the character a source of motivation, with his mother who taught him how to make chocolates. It provides a different backstory to the character than in the previous film, one that is a little more interesting and adds depth to the character. 



I also really liked Noodle’s character and the dynamic between her and Willy. He shows her a new way to view the world and how to dream big. Then she kind of pulls him back into reality sometimes when he needs it most. They help each other to reach their goals in a very wholesome way. I also loved seeing Olivia Colman play such a wacky and disturbing character as Mrs.Scrubbit. It just feels like she had a lot of fun in this role. I also never thought I needed to see Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa but it was amazing. The plot surrounding the chocolate cartel reminded me of Boggis, Bunce and Bean from Fantastic Mr. Fox and I loved it. It was fun to root against them, especially Slugworth who was incredibly portrayed by Paterson Joseph. 




Throughout the entire film, I was waiting for it to turn dark, similar to the previous films Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). But it never really came. This movie is very different from its predecessors, it is purely joyous and fun. I know a lot of people don’t like musicals, but honestly, I loved the music and I thought all of the musical numbers were well-choreographed and fun to watch. 


This is exactly the type of movie the world needs right now. I feel like we keep making all of these depressing dramas and some of them are great, but we need movies that make people happy too. I love this movie because it’s just fun. If you need a laugh, or you need to get into the holiday spirit, this is the perfect movie. This is so far one of my favourite movies of the year, and I can't wait to go and watch it again. Go watch Wonka in theatres right now!