A prequel that’s full of pure imagination.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has been labeled one of Roald Dahl’s most celebrated books, which transitioned into two film versions. One was the classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” with the late Gene Wilder being the most delightful Wonka, and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” with Johnny Depp being criticized for portraying Wonka, but still has a lot of visual eye candy and Freddie Highmore carrying the heart as Charlie. I’ve read the book and seen both movie versions as a kid. And we all question why “Tom & Jerry” had to make a direct-to-DVD version of it, which is too inconsistent for our tastes.
Now that we’re entering a stage of sequels and prequels, we have the prequel “Wonka” with the young Timothee Chalamet (with darker hair than Wilder’s) expanding his horizons exuberantly as the young Willy Wonka. I’ve mentioned this with “Mary Poppins Returns,” it doesn’t top the original classic, but it still delights you with the right musical numbers and charming performances. It’s candy coated piece of entertainment for children of all ages. And I rarely say that in my reviews.
As the film begins, Willy Wonka has traveled the world, explored many continents, and used whatever samples he could find to make his chocolate as magical as they go. He’s a bit of a magician and his candy is, well, eye candy, and he has yet to figure out the secret to his deceased loving mother’s (Sally Hawkins) chocolate. The chocolate she made for him as a child.
He’s not without enemies in the forms three evil chocolatiers: Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas), and Ficklegruber (Matthew Baynton), who all have the chief of police (Keegan-Michael Key) on their payroll. They literally pay him in chocolate (enough to fatten him up) to keep Wonka from selling his candy to the public.
If that wasn’t enough, he also finds himself conned by laundry owners: Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Colman) and Bleacher (Tom Davis), who both offer him a room, but with a contract.
Unfortunately for him, he fails to read the fine print of the contract, which claims he owes them a substantial amount of money, and now, he works as a laundry men with a colorful cast of characters. There’s the accountant Abacus Crunch (Jim Carter), the comedian Larry Chucklesworth (Rich Fulcher), the plumber Piper Benz (Natasha Rothwell), the phone operator Lottie Bell (Rakhee Thakrar), and the cynical orphan Noodle (Calah Lane).
If he tries to escape, Mrs. Scrubbit and Bleacher will call the police on him, but with some help from his new friends and a little of his magic, he decides to continue to dazzle his customers.
Unless of course, he falls under the clutches of the three evil chocolatiers and the mischief of the Oompa Loompa named Lofty (Hugh Grant).
“Wonka” was directed by Paul King, who offers the same kind of exuberance, heart, and honest comedy as he did with the “Paddington” movies. It’s a movie that overcomes whatever cynicism may appear, and it isn’t too extreme for its targeted audience. In fact, it’s too silly and lighthearted to be extreme. It’s like a live-action cartoon that doesn’t humiliate itself or anyone in the process, but rather show us the fantasies within.
Chalamet is able to have fun with the character, almost reminding me of how young and energetic Johnny Depp was in “Ed Wood.” Although, I like to imagine a parallel universe, where the role would go to Jeremy Allen White, who looks like but isn’t related to Gene Wilder. Lane makes a likable introduction playing a youngster whose spirits are overshadowed by cynicism, but can overcome them by Wonka’s dreams and ideas. The prisoned laundry people are also fun characters, and so are the villains, especially the chief of police. Hawkins shows off some sweetness as the mom. Grant is very funny as the talking and singing Oompa Loompa, who somehow must be related to the actor with his mannerisms. And you also get Rowan Atkinson as a priest, who treats his chocolates like they’re contraband.
I would place this behind the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” because some moments are a bit much, but I know when I’ve been tickled and moved. And I know that when you buy chocolate candy for your viewing pleasure, it couldn’t be sweeter.
