Wonka - 💥💥💥💥💥

Director: Paul King 
Writers: Paul King and Simon Farnaby

Release Date: 8th December 2023

Hot Rating: 💥💥💥💥💥

Synopsis: Wonka shows how the master chocolatier himself, Willy Wonka (played here by Timothee Chalamet), came to be the character audiences know and love in Roald Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Thwarted by a mafia of chocolatiers, led by Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), and a wretched landlady Mrs Scrubbit (Olivia Colman), Wonka befriends an orphan named Noodle (Calah Lane) who helps him pursue his dream. 

Review: Paul Kay's Wonka charmingly charts the journey of Willy Wonka from aspiring chocolatier to confectionary king. Timothée Chalamet shines as the young dreamer determined to share his chocolate creations with the world. With help from new friends like orphan, Noodle (Calah Lane) and Oompa Loompa thief (Hugh Grant), Wonka perseveres to unveil his magnificent chocolate factory despite ruthless rivals and corrupt bureaucrats trying to thwart his candy-coated visions. The script wonderfully blends humour and adventure with poignant themes of friendship and morality. Chalamet and Lane have delightful chemistry, while the British cast including Olivia Colman and Paterson Joseph bring hilarious hijinks. Leaning into the musical whimsy of previous adaptations, each song here feels impactful, simultaneously advancing the story and imbuing the on-screen world with a sense of childlike wonder. The final inclusion of ‘Pure Imagination’ only encapsulates the film's magical spirit and serves as Wonka’s main thesis statement: “dream big”.

Image: YouTube