H. T. Davey Reviews

Review by H. T. Davey

Wonka (2023)

★★★★

Director: Paul King

Welcome to the world of pure magic and imagination. Wonka, directed by Paul King who also brought us Paddington and Paddington 2, returns to the screen directing a magical comedy exploring the origin of the world’s most famous chocolatier, the one and only, Willy Wonka.

This movie is unapologetically unique to past movies of the franchise in that Wonka stands on its own feet as a solid prequel with original songs, new characters and even new chocolate. The magic of Wonka comes not just from the chocolate but from the dynamic performance of Timothée Chalamet as Wonka who acted and sang his heart out in the role.

The story of Wonka is a simple tale of a young man trying to pursue his dreams of opening his own chocolate factory, to be held back by adversity and jealous rival chocolate makers. Wonka teams up with other fellow misfits to help him on his journey and to bring joy to a poverty-stricken city. The story is filled with witty characters and colourful costumes which is no surprise given Paul King’s filmography in the Paddington’s series of a talking bear. A non-human character in this movie is of large importance. A giraffe plays a vital role in the story, causing drama in the city centre and comedic flair for the movie.

The story showcases the large wealth divide in the city, where only the wealthy could afford chocolate, with a chocolate cartel at play, creating a corrupt police force and chocolate bribery. Yes, you heard that right, bribery by chocolate.

The magic continues all the way to the end where we see Wonka fulfil parts of his dreams and be re-connected spiritually with his late mother, bringing tears to some viewers. This movie makes dreams come true for multiple characters, not just Wonka. We see Noodle, a friend of Wonka’s, beautifully reunited to a long-lost family member.

A Willy Wonka movie cannot be complete without the appearance of an Oompa Loompa, and luckily, we have an Oompa Loompa portrayed by actor and Englishman Hugh Grant. Grant’s performance is witty and insane, creating a comedic and wild performance as an Oompa Loompa, one to be admired.

Wonka is a well made and magical film, and a perfect movie to end the year with.

H. T. Davey Reviews

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