A sweet treat worth savouring

A prequel movie to Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory exploring the origins of the titular character was always going to be a tricky proposition, as such films typically lack a compelling reason to exist beyond financial aspirations. But in the hands of Paddington and Paddington 2 director Paul King, who co-wrote the script with Simon Farnaby, 2023's Wonka exceeds all reasonable expectations. A musical fantasy flick reminiscent of 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Wonka tells a worthwhile, engaging original story about the iconic chocolatier, and King brings the material to life with his usual directorial excellence. This is not a disposable origin story held back by the format's limitations and frustrations; instead, it is merely a new story based on Dahl's characters. Although Wonka is family-friendly, it is a rare type of children's movie with vast age appeal, as it does not pander to younger viewers. King concentrates on good old-fashioned storytelling, finding unexpected heart and emotion, making this one of 2023's standout movies.

An aspiring magician, inventor and chocolatier, Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) arrives in Europe with the hopes of opening a shop to sell his magical chocolates. Stuck on the freezing cold streets without any money, Wonka is pressured into staying at a boarding house run by Mrs. Scrubitt (Olivia Colman) and her henchman, Bleacher (Tom Davis). However, Wonka receives an exorbitant bill he cannot pay, forcing him to work off his debt in Scrubitt's workhouse alongside an orphan named Noodle (Calah Lane) and several others who were duped by the promise of a cheap room for a night. Wonka also runs into trouble trying to sell his chocolates on the streets, as the business is controlled by the ruthless "Chocolate Cartel" consisting of three rival chocolate-makers: Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton), and Prodnose (Matt Lucas). The Cartel uses their vast supply of chocolate to bribe the chocolate-addicted Chief of Police (Keegan-Michael Key), who agrees to do whatever he can to stop Wonka from selling his treats. Undeterred, Wonka teams up with Noodle and the others at the workhouse to go up against the Cartel and escape Scrubitt's clutches.

Set 25 years before the events of the original novel, Wonka is not an origin story in the strictest sense. Here, Wonka is already an accomplished chocolate maker with a love for chocolate, and he possesses the tools and exotic ingredients to create delectable treats that are an instant hit with the public. The only thing missing is a place to sell his wares. Flashbacks illuminate parts of Wonka's childhood, specifically his relationship with his mother (Sally Hawkins) who made incredible chocolate, but they are used sparingly to enhance the story and establish the picture's emotional core. It's a far more agreeable angle than an entire movie about Wonka developing a love for chocolate, learning how to make it and travelling the world to harvest ingredients. King and Farnaby's screenplay is tonally reminiscent of the Paddington movies in all the right ways, with quirky characters (Rowan Atkinson and The Mighty Boosh's Rich Fulcher are highlights), sweet friendships (Wonka and Noodle are a terrific pairing) and tender humour. The story's heart derives from Wonka's beloved mother, as the young man seeks to open a chocolate shop as a tribute to her, and he carries around the last chocolate bar she ever gave him. The payoff is overwhelmingly affecting.

The clear visual inspiration for Wonka is 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, from Chalamet's costume to Hugh Grant's Oompa-Loompa (named Lofty), and a new rendition of the song Pure Imagination, notes of which Joby Talbot integrates into the score. Speaking of the music, the new songs written by Neil Hannon are a thorough delight, organically progressing the story and providing valuable character development. Wonka further benefits from the consistently eye-catching cinematography courtesy of the unparalleled Chung Chung-hoon (The Handmaiden, It, Last Night in Soho). The movie was in post-production for almost two years, and the carefully constructed visuals reflect this. Whereas most big-budget blockbusters suffer from shoddy visual effects due to rushed production schedules, Wonka looks virtually flawless, and it is often impossible to discern where the live-action elements end and the CGI begins. Just take, for example, the digitally-created Lofty, who looks photorealistic. Although Grant criticised the motion-capture process, Lofty is a miracle of digital artistry that is immaculately integrated into the live-action photography. There's a wonderful storybook quality to the gorgeous visual style, with the picture looking theatrical instead of gritty or realistic, which suits King's family-friendly tonal choices and the musical nature of the production.

The role of Willy Wonka is an intimidating ask for a young performer, but Chalamet absolutely nails it, confidently handling both the dramatic material and the songs. Chalamet is a disarming Wonka who is easy to love and empathise with, and he undeniably looks the part. Impressively, Chalamet manages to create his own fully fleshed-out interpretation of the character instead of a performance that feels like mere mimicry. An extraordinary supporting cast surrounds him, with both seasoned performers and promising newcomers filling out the ensemble. Grant is the most notable, making the most of his limited screen time, emanating charisma and effortlessly gaining laughs through dialogue and subtle body language. Even lesser-known actors like Tom Davis make a positive impression, and it's commendable that each actor manages to carve out distinctive, lived-in characters with unique personalities and traits.

Colourful, funny, earnest and incredibly charming, Wonka ticks almost every box and is easily the best movie featuring Willy Wonka to date, surpassing both previous adaptations that were not particularly good in the first place. Although the picture threatens to fall apart during the action-y climax, King does not let the material out of his control, leading to a finale that tugs on the heartstrings without feeling forced or manipulative. With the Paddington team working their magic here, Wonka is a sweet treat worth savouring.