Wonka Movie Musical Review

A world where chocolate possesses the power to give you confidence, provide a much needed silver lining, make you fly and turn your day into a Broadway show sounds like a pretty good place to be and that is the world of Willy Wonka in this sweet and charming musical prequel showing the days of the chocolate inventor before his famous factory.

Here we meet young Willy (Timothée Chalamet) arriving in town in the hope of setting up his very own chocolate shop. But his hat full of dreams can’t replace empty pockets and without money, he finds himself in debt to Mrs Scrubbit (Olivia Coleman) and Bleacher (Tom Davis) meeting fellow workers Noodle (Calah Lane), Abacus (Jim Carter), Lottie (Rakhee Thakrar), Piper (Natasha Rothwell) and Larry (Rich Fulcher). Together they set out to both repay their debts and get Willy his shop, all against the fight of the chocolate cartel of Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas) and Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton).

For the sake of this review, let’s push ahead and ignore certain comments made recently by Timothée Chalamet and instead focus on his performance as Wonka here. He encapsulates the wacky, confident, kooky side of Wonka mixed with a childlike wonder, an innocence and a good dose of hyperactivity, remaining lovable throughout. This is Wonka without the edge, before the darkness, and Chalamet creates a character entirely of his own without leaning on the templates of previous factory era Wonkas.

Calah Lane’s Noodle is a smart kid in a bad situation, but viewers will her on to escape Scrubbit and find her family. Her duet ‘For A Moment’ with Chalamet is heartwarming and sweet, bringing a fairytale sense of adventure. Carter, Thakrar, Rothwell and Fulcher make for a merry back up band throughout.

With their trio number ‘Sweet Tooth’ proving to be a particular highlight, Joseph, Lucas and Baynton shine as the film’s three baddies, chocolate makers Slugworth, Prodnose and Fickelgruber. They provide both humour and the threat of the storyline, despite this prequel not venturing into the real danger and darkness of the chocolate factory.

Keegan-Michael Key and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith make a great double act as police officers tasked to rid the town of Wonka but it is Coleman and Davis who take the crown for top pairing. Davis’ Bleacher is comedic brilliance and Coleman delights in playing the dastardly and wicked Mrs Scrubbit. Hugh Grant’s appearance as Oompa Loompa is a prime example of an actor simply having the best time.

The music by Neil Hannon with lyrics by Paul King and Simon Farnaby is fun, catchy and in fitting with the story, aiding in the creation of a wonderful fantasy land that can capture the imaginary of the entire family.

Fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory may wish that this prequel had that same sense of danger as that tale, but for those who just want something light, fun and magical, Wonka fits the bill.

I watched Wonka on Amazon Prime.