On December 15, 2023 the musical film “Wonka,” hit the big screens gracing theaters and audiences with its creative and entertaining plot. The film provided a story of Willy Wonka’s life, played by Timothee Chalemet, before the famous chocolate factory was introduced and is not a sequel to Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Willy Wonka or Johnny Depp’s. As it is the last of the three movies released that explore the fairytale from Roald Dahl’s original book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” it was held to high standards to meet years of widely received positive feedback from the previous movies.
The story of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory has been popular for decades, from its original story written back in 1964 to take on new forms of retelling the British story. All have followed a similar storyline. Chocolate maker Willy Wonka releases his famous Wonka Chocolate Bars with special golden tickets in a few select bars to the public. If the golden ticket was found, the winner got to take a tour of Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike TV and Augustus Gloop all won a ticket and took the tour of the factory—however, none of the greedy children survived the trip around the factory but Charlie Bucket. “Wonka,” on the other hand, does not have any of these famous characters and provides a whole new story which is an important aspect for viewers to remember before going to watch the film. Director Paul King wanted to create an adventure with a younger version of the beloved character to truly embody the infamous lines from Wonka’s song of “Pure Imagination.” Chalamet does an effortless job of embodying all that, as he portrays the chocolate maker with big dreams in a lighthearted, creative and inspiring manner.
The movie takes place in a fictional land that is made to resemble London, England. After arriving to fulfill his dream of sharing his chocolate with the world, Wonka finds himself penniless on the streets. Mr. Bleacher, played by Tom Davis, brings Wonka to a home he shares with a woman named Mrs. Scrubbit, portrayed by Olivia Colman. A young girl who lives there named Noodle, played by Cahla Lane, tells Wonka to read the fine print before signing a contract to stay there that holds rules and payments one has to abide by. When he does not read it, Wonka finds himself in a sticky situation where he is forced to work at Mr. Bleacher and Mrs. Scrubbits house with four others who also failed to read the fine print. Together, they work to defeat the three chocolatier villains of the movie: Slugsworth, (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas) and Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton), who try to take Wonka down and exile him from the city. Through the protagonists, along with the help of an Oompa Loompa, played by Hugh Grant, they devise a plan and adventures to ensure Wonka can fulfill his dream of opening a chocolate factory.
This movie has an abundance of creative sets, joyful songs, well known and credited actors and actresses. Most importantly, it portrays a heartfelt message to all audiences to never give up on one’s dream no matter how many people try to discourage you. A meaningful message of friendship and collaboration with others is also presented in the movie, making it a wonderful experience for all viewers. While it is aimed towards a younger audience, the movie can absolutely be adored by adults that will truly bring out the child in them. While some people are opposed to the re-telling of the same story, the film is a must watch that definitely held up its high standards.
