Years before the world-famous Golden Ticket fiasco, Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) sets out on the journey of a lifetime, as he attempts to open the greatest chocolate factory in the world. However, the city in which he’s chosen to open up shop is inundated by other chocolate makers, and the dream that he’s held onto since he was a child is becoming less and less likely.
I recently read an article stating that the reason that no iterations other than Gene Wilder’s version of the titular character are able to find success is because they are unable to convey the idea that they don’t care what happens to the children (or anyone else for that matter). The original cinematic venture into the world of Roald Dahl’s Wonka presented viewers with a jaded individual, one that was unwilling to adhere to the ridiculous ideals of the world around him. In Wonka, Writer Simon Farnaby and Writer-Director Paul King rewrote the beloved character into something far less scrumdidilyumptious. He’s stupid, optimistic, and just drastically different from what the world has come to want from the character. The reality is that King and Farnaby could have altered the character, had they provided some sort of explanation–but none came, and it became increasingly more difficult to appreciate the character as Wonka progressed.
What is true of the titular character is unfortunately true of just about every other aspect of Wonka as well. Not much about the film is entertaining, and the writers do too much in trying to appeal to their audience. In 1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory came to be, and it was an exaggerated tale about a series of children (and adults) with dreams to be bigger and better. The exaggeration is necessary, but not so much that it makes the film feel otherworldly. Wonka desperately needs to remain grounded, and that never happens. Wonka strays too far from reality, becoming incapable of appealing to the humanity of its viewers. It never finds its footing, and that’s detrimental to the film.
Every inch of Wonka drips with exaggeration, and that includes the acting. I’ve seen many of these actors in other roles, and I’ve seen them thrive–and with that I have to believe that it’s the direction of King that has caused these actors to fall flat. They, much like the dreary and uninspired story, fail to find their way into the hearts of viewers. Again and again I tried to appreciate the characters, even the film’s lead, and time and time again I found it nearly impossible to like them. The majority of the characters are useless, and that’s just downright frustrating.
The one piece of the puzzle that manages to work in favor of the film is the subtle nod to the original songs buried within the score of Wonka. The majority of the score and the soundtrack is horrific, the majority of what Wonka produces in regard to sound is unimpressive. However, those subtle nods (the two or three times that they appear) nearly brought a tear to my eye, reminding me of the masterpiece that is Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. While I want the film to be more original, holding on to this piece of what came before is a stroke of genius and was well received.
That tidbit within the score and the final minute of Wonka are the only things that work. Everything else struggles to find its footing, struggles to engage audiences, and ultimately falls flat. The biggest issue is that Wonka doesn’t attempt, in any way, to set itself apart from its predecessor. What it does is try to compete with Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, rather than attempting to be something original and sincere. It suffers as a result of its inability to step away, become its own thing, and invigorate a new generation of chocolatiers. I’ve seen over five-hundred films this year, and Wonka ranks among the worst.
Directed by Paul King.
Starring Simon Farnaby, Paul King, & Roald Dahl.
Starring Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Charlotte Ritchie, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Rowan Atkinson, Simon Farnaby, Mathew Baynton, Calah Lane, Matt Lucas, Sophie Winkleman, Tom Davis, Jim Carter, etc.
⭐⭐⭐/10
