Fog departs and we see a ship part the sea, heading for land. A man climbs a ladder, heading for the ship’s crow’s nest. The camera zooms and the clouds part to reveal Willy Wonka, played by Timothée Chalamet, who immediately launches into song. We watch as Wonka gathers his belongings and heads off the ship and into a city. He carries a “hat full of dreams” and a goal to sell the chocolate he’s spent his life making.  

“Wonka,” directed by Paul King and set to release in theaters on Dec. 15, is a mediocre, cliché, shallow and yet visually appealing story about the origins of Willy Wonka’s chocolate empire. 

Performances

Chalamet simply falls flat in the role of Wonka. Chalamet spends the first few minutes of the movie exploring the city and sharing his aspirations to become a renowned chocolatier. Despite an effort to depict Wonka as a big dreamer facing insurmountable odds who is always nevertheless generous, he comes across as unlikable. Wonka’s naive belief in his future success mistranslates to narcissism. His innocence in his first few interactions comes across as mostly pompous. 

It eventually becomes less difficult to root for Wonka, but Chalamet continues to prove how unfit he is for the role. Chalamet’s attempts to act eccentric and weird in a classic Wonka way feel forced and awkward. All in all Chalamet’s performance feels distant and impersonal. This leads to the movie’s main character feeling shallow and underdeveloped. 

Performances from the rest of the cast make up for what Chalamet’s lacked. The trifecta of powerful chocolatiers played by Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton, build a ridiculous and entertaining portrayal of greed and power. Hugh Grant’s haughty humor as an Oompa-Loompa shines in every scene he’s in. Calah Lane’s heartwarming performance as Noodle helps guide the development and themes of the movie. 

Story

“Wonka” does little to expand on the character of Willy Wonka that we all know and love. The first half of the movie feels almost like a chore to get through. The action feels rushed and we’re not given a chance to connect with Wonka. His motivations feel unclear and at times insincere.

The action picks up in the second half of the movie as we watch Wonka maneuver around the challenges he encounters with the help of his friends. When the movie embraces absurdity in fast-paced action it starts to feel more cohesive. However, whether it ever really comes together is debatable. 

The movie’s soundtrack is adequate. Chalamet’s voice pales in comparison to the musical numbers given by other members of the cast. All but two or three of the songs sound the same. Ultimately, the songs feel more like a time filler than a valuable part of the story. 

The messages the movie works to portray are at times insufferably on the nose. Sure it’s a kid’s film, but that doesn’t mean subtlety and nuance are unobtainable. 

Visuals

The movie’s visuals made up for (at least in part) what the story itself lacked. Every scene was well choreographed. Characters beautifully move around each other and bounce off each other’s actions. The teamwork of the movie’s main crew was illustrated visually in a way that provided valuable insight into the group’s dynamics. Musical numbers featuring more than one of the film’s characters were organized well and made for an entertaining scene.

The cinematography was nothing special. It wasn’t noticeable, which in a sense means it was done right, but there were a couple of shots that just felt out of place. 

Color was used well and translated with the state and beliefs of the characters. Colorful chocolates, rooms and outfits helped to create a magical feeling that secured the mysticism of Wonka’s world. 

Ultimately I walked out of the theater feeling almost completely indifferent. I wouldn’t say I gained anything from watching this film, but I didn’t lose anything either.

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@JosiHinds