Wonka

Last night, I went to a preview screening of Wonka, evidently a prequel to the classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (that's the one with Gene Wilder, as opposed to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp in the Wonka role). It's got musical cues in common with the earlier flick, anyway. It features Timothée Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka, just setting out on his magical, candy-making career in a city where the chocolate industry is tightly held in the grip of three evil, colluding competitors – Slugworth (Paterson Joseph, late of Law & Order UK), whose handshake is crushing; Prodnose (Matt Lucas, on record as the most annoying Doctor Who companion ever), who is always over-explaining; and Fickelgruber (Matthew Baynton of You, Me and the Apocalypse), who pukes inside his mouth everytime someone says the word "poor." These candy magnates water down their chocolate, hoarding the precious stuff in a vault under the cathedral, with the connivance of a chocoholic bishop played by Rowan Atkinson (a.k.a. Mr. Bean). Together with a corrupt police chief (an ever-expanding Keegan-Michael Key) they conspire to run young Wonka off.

Aiding in their enterprise are a laundress/landlady who tricks unsuspecting guests into owing her massive amounts of money, then forces them to work off their debt; she's played by Olivia Colman. You'll also see Jim Carter as one of the other captives, Sally Hawkins (mainly in flashbacks) as Willy's mum, and a young Calah Lane in a lead role as the girl who helps Willy restore his fortunes. And of course, Hugh Grant as the Oompa-Loompa, appearing only from about the midpoint of the movie onward, whom Wonka describes as his nemesis.

I think it's a fun movie, with a big vision full of magic, sweetness and wonder all pitched in conflict against greed, corruption and the way the world generally runs. It prominently features a giraffe and a flock of flamingoes, marvelous inventions, spiffy candy ingredients, and a candy shop that (for just a few moments, and on a smaller scale) brings to life the Wonka factory we remember from that old Gene Wilder movie. It has a couple of comical romances (one of them just a bit icky), some daft plots that tend to go wrong in just the right way, and one nightmarish bit where the heroes nearly drown in a vat of chocolate (what a way to go). It's a sometimes dreamlike movie that touches quite a few different emotions, most often laughter, and if its imagery makes your mouth water like it did mine, movie theater concession stands will do well when it's in wide distribution.

As for the performances ... well, I got a kick out of the villains. My heart went out to Wonka's oppressed friends. I felt Rowan A. was a bit underutilized, but I suppose he is a strong enough flavor that too much of him could be bad thing. In the Oompa-Loompa role, I found Hugh Grant adequate but I wasn't entirely sold on the special effects that translated him into a tiny orange and green guy. In the Wonka role, I'd rank Chalamet above Depp but still lower than Wilder – but I could kinda buy into the idea of him growing to be Wilder later on.

I'm a huge fan of the original Wilder adaptation and of Roald Dahl's original book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was excited enough about the idea of this movie that I had to see it despite knowing that it was unlikely to be an improvement on the oldest and best version of the story. And also, despite the fact that I'm out of temper with Chalamet, partly due to his career niche as Main Character in a Franchise Reboot Nobody Asked for – cf. Denis Villeneuve's bloated remake of Dune, which I refuse to see because the Kyle MacLachlan version does not need to be replaced. But saw this movie I did; this movie I saw; and while I'm not exactly raving about it, I came away very satisfied with my evening's entertainment.

Three Scenes That Made It For Me: (1) When the giraffe rampages through the cathedral. Rowan Atkinson is a treasure. (2) Wonka's shop opens – and closes – in one visually brilliant day. (3) The villainous musical number where the three candy magnates try to bribe the police chief to arrange a "little accident" (in which he dies) for young Wonka. Hilarious, evil and catchy all at once.

The only thing I'd definitely change about the movie is the Oompa-Loompa. Sorry, that didn't work. But it's really a small part of the film, surprisingly small in fact, given the amount of publicity Hugh Grant's involvement has gotten. His general appearance is all right, but something about the way his character moves triggers that gosh-darned Uncanny Valley. And his acting wasn't really on point for the role, either. So there's my criticism. Like it or lump it, don't forget to have something sweet when you watch this movie.