Another big-budget movie based on a beloved franchise hits theaters this weekend, this time bringing back the beloved character Willy Wonka created by Roald Dahl. This is the third major movie based on that character being released, but unlike the first two, this movie tells the origins of the famous chocolate maker and not the story of him and Charlie. Paul King, director/writer of the Paddington movies teams up again with Paddington 2 writer Simon Farnaby to tell the story of Wonka. The movie has a big cast with lots of great names, but the movie focuses on Willy Wonka played by Timothee Chamalet.
The story begins as Wonka arrives at the fictional Gallerie Gourmet, a place that's famous for its three chocolate creators who are well-known throughout the world. Wonka dreams of opening up his own shop alongside these three creators, but all his plans change when he finally meets them. Threatened by his skills in chocolate making, the three creators will do anything to stop him from selling in their town. With no money and no place to sell his candy, Wonka is tricked into servitude at an inn where he meets many others who share the same fate as him. Wonka's dream is not to be stopped and with the help of some new friends, he will fight for a way to make his dream still happen.
The first thing to mention is that most people will probably go into this movie with the memory of the original 1971 film with Gene Wilder. It's almost unfair to expect anyone else to really live up to that performance and it certainly didn't happen in this new movie. That being said Timothee Chamalet's performance brought a new twist on Willy Wonka that was well done and enjoyable to watch. It takes a while to get used to his version of Wonka if you're more familiar with the classic. This movie is not really that similar to the 1971 movie in general, besides some whimsical moments involving candy and some familiar songs. This movie is very similar to the Paddington movies in tone, which would make sense considering they were written and directed by the same people. It's a very lighthearted movie full of family-friendly comedy, but it still has some really heartfelt moments that mostly work.
The weakest parts of the movie are maybe Wonka himself at times, especially when it comes to his comedic bits. While younger watchers might like his particular style of comedy, I felt more thrown off by it at times as it felt maybe a little forced with his overly whimsical personality. Also, the villains aren't really that interesting for the most part and are just the typical greedy rich villains who will do anything to keep their profits. The music was also hit-or-miss, with a lot of the songs being pretty forgettable and of course, having to reuse a few songs from the 1971 film (not that I minded that too much honestly). Outside of those moments, the movie still has a ton of charm with its story and characters. The standout is Noodle, played by Calah Lane, who is an orphan who helps Wonka sell his candy as he promises her a better life if he helps her. Her relationship with Wonka is what really carries the movie and they really have some of the best moments in the movie together.
If you're going to watch this movie, it's best to not expect anything like the 1971 movie. This movie feels like it's doing its own thing outside of a few songs and references. If you liked any of the Paddington movies you will probably enjoy this too. It's not as good as any of those movies, but it's got enough to make it worth a watch. Just don't expect to be blown away by a Gene Wilder-like performance. Hollywood's obsession with bringing back old franchises doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon, but thankfully this one wasn't too bad and had enough to make it enjoyable the whole way through.
Overall Grade: C+
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