Fifty-two years after the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” debut, director Paul King puts a new spin on the story about the ecstatic chocolate master, focusing on Wonka’s rise from rags to riches as he builds the most successful chocolate factory in the world. The movie had been highly anticipated for over two years, ever since Timothee Chalamet was announced to portray the eccentric chocolatier in May 2021. Critics wondered whether this new adaptation would live up to the 1971 original, while others vowed it wouldn’t stand a chance against Tim Burton’s 2005 adaptation starring Johnny Depp, but the film is a refreshing take on the story, featuring vivacious musical numbers, comedic sidekicks and villains and chocolate sweets with effects you’d never dream of.
The movie is set in what seems like a European city, full of clean streets, tourists and three pre-existing chocolate factories. Willy Wonka, whose age was not specified but looks to be a young adult, aspires to fulfill his dream of opening up his own factory and sharing his special chocolates with the world, but arrives with little to no money and soon gets trapped into a lifetime of work for a laundry service by schemy hotel owner Mrs. Scrubbitt (Olivia Colman). He meets other servants who had been tricked as well, including orphan Noodle (Calah Lane), who Wonka develops a soft spot for. The group of misfits devise a plan to get out of their indentured servitude using Wonka’s magical chocolates, but they’ll have to avoid the other chocolatiers in town and the local double-dealing police chief (Keegan Michael-Key), who will go to great lengths to put Wonka out of business.
The film is lighthearted and very enjoyable, as the role of Wonka is a sunny, glass-half full dreamer who breaks out into song every 10-15 minutes, a complete contrast from Chalamet’s other roles (such as his grim portrayal of Paul Atreides in “Dune” or shy, sensitive Elio in “Call Me By Your Name”). You’ll chuckle at some noteworthy moments, such as when the police get extremely bloated after being unable to resist eating Wonka’s chocolates every day, Wonka’s attempt to harvest giraffe milk or when Wonka and Noodle come up with an outlandish scheme to make Mrs. Scrubbitt and her henchman fall in love.
While the musical numbers might not appear on your Spotify Wrapped, they’re catchy and could be stuck in your head for awhile. “Scrub Scrub” was a favorite song, featuring the group of servants at the laundry service breaking out into song and dance while doing their chores (it was sort of giving “Annie”). We also get a reprise of the songs “Oompa Loompa” and “World of Your Own” from the 1971 movie, featuring Hugh Grant as a miniscule green man who loves stealing Wonka’s chocolates. The choreography and costumes are over the top but fun, and the scenes we get to see of the actual factory and the treats that lie within has everyone yearning for a bite.
The story gets sentimental as well, as we get a glimpse into Wonka’s childhood and relationship with his mother (Sally Hawkins), who has big dreams involving chocolate but was never able to achieve them. We also see Wonka’s bond with Noodle develop throughout the movie, as Noodle promises to teach Wonka to read while Wonka gives her hope of becoming successful and finding her birth parents. Chalamet did a great job bringing the young Wonka to life, and the rest of the cast brought fun storylines and songs to life. Friendship is a key theme in this adaptation of the original, while also having its creative, vibrant and colorful moments. Families, children and adults alike will enjoy this movie, full of chocolate, music and imagination.
