WONKA starring Timothee Chalamet is the perfect treat for children this Christmas.
Based on the classic children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Wonka is the origin story of the famed chocolatier Willy Wonka from the book.
This isn’t the first time the classic story has been adapted for the silver screen, with previous iterations starring Gene Wilder and Johny Depp in the titular roles of Willy Wonka coming out in 1971 and 2005, respectively. Both of those movies are hailed as children’s classics, and by the look of it, Wonka might attain that honour too.
Wonka is very much a musical, with the screenplay not daring to do anything experimental or ground-breaking with the storyline. It’s what you would expect in an origin story about Willy Wonka. Wonka is new to town and wants to sell his chocolates. But a greedy and often diabolical chocolate cartel stands in his way. How Wonka bests these ne’er-do-wells and becomes the best chocolatier in the world makes up the rest of the story.
The film is based on a classic children’s book
To an adult audience, Wonka might not be all that interesting. The story isn’t great, the songs aren’t great, and the antics that are supposed to be fun unfortunately fall really flat.
But for children, this is a fun ride from start to finish.
Timothée Chalamet embodies the spirit of Roald Dahl’s work, breathing new life into a character that’s already been represented pretty well on screen. His expressions, his unadulterated glee, and his overall vibe make this movie a genuinely fun time at the theatre for the young ones.
The supporting cast is packed full of big names, but aren’t utilised to their full strengths. Instead, the movie focuses all its attention on Chalamet’s Wonka, and for better or for worse that seems to work in the grand scheme of things.
Like I said, this is the perfect movie for children this Christmas. Just don’t expect to be blown away if you’re accompanying your kids to the theatre too.
Verdict: A must-watch for kids while you watch something more appropriate for adults.
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