Wonka | Pure Joy (Or Should I Say, Imagination!) | Film Review

It is not too frequently I find myself writing about films; I frequently take myself to the cinema or watch new things on Netflix or Disney Plus – I love to escape in a good story, in whatever form that takes. More often than not, I want to write about films but don’t feel like there’s any point – after all, with huge news outlets covering them, who is going to read little me’s words? Even more so when the films are these huge blockbusters filled with famous stars – exactly like Wonka is! But then sometimes, I watch something and a burst of inspiration hits me and refuses to go away until I get my thoughts out of my head and onto my screen.

Wonka is the most recent burst of inspiration – hitting me right in the heart and refusing to budge. So, here are little me’s thoughts on this delightfully imaginative and creative movie.

With there already being two films adapted from Ronald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it may be thought unnecessary to have a third suddenly brought into the mix; yet Wonka brings a breath of fresh air to the story we all know so well, by spanning years before the events of the famous book and two already existing films. Wonka takes us back to when Mr Willy Wonka, played by Timothée Chalamet, is a young man full of enthusiasm and fresh ideas, telling the story of how he made his name and how his chocolate came to be – and what a feast for the eyes and ears this delightful film was!

With catchy tunes to stay in your head, bright colours galore and a cast whose energy is palpable, Wonka is a film for younger audiences and adults alike. Based on the iconic character from Roald Dahl’s original story, this is a brand new story written and directed by Paul King, with the screenplay courtesy also of Paul King combined with Simon Farnaby. Wonka brings a new cast of characters and the story is familiar enough that fans of the other films can enjoy them, yet new and different enough that the story feels original and only adds to the Wonka universe. The cast and creative team alike have had all their hard work pay off as this world, story and characters have all been brought to life in a vibrant, unforgettable way. 

There is a nostalgic feel to Wonka, not too dissimilar from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The combination of the story, musical numbers and imagination brings together the feeling of a proper old-school musical movie to touch everyone’s hearts. With a lot of current movie and television productions seeming to prefer dimmer and duller colours for the screen, it’s a breath of fresh air to see Wonka go the other way and be so full of vibrant colours, making the film a visual wonder to watch. 

What was so loveable about this film is that at the heart of it all, is the joy chocolate brings. It is fun, bright and colourful, full of pure innocent joy all based around chocolate. Whilst films can be fantastic ways of telling crucial stories and educating audiences, there is one simple purpose that is severely underrated they are vitally important for: to entertain. To give us that escapism from the mundanities and stresses of life and to make us smile for a few hours, to get lost in a story. All of which Wonka more than provides. 

Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka himself is full of charm and radiates positivity, and shines in his role; from the hopeful performance he provides at the start of the film in ‘A Hatful of Dreams’ to the exuberant song ‘A World of Our Own’ to his heartfelt rendition of ‘Pure Imagination’, he shows us what a stellar actor he is. Across the film, we see Wonka grow before our eyes as he takes us from a youthful naive figure to the famous wondrous chocolatier we know and love in the previous films that have come before this one. It may not even be too bold a statement to say that Chalamet’s performance as Wonka will be one that will be praised highly for years to come, to say the least. It’s not easy to take such an iconic character and bring him to life in a way that fits in with his predecessors yet still make the role his own, however, Chalamet has done just this in a perfect, memorable and mesmerising manner. 

Furthermore, his chemistry with Wonka’s found family is touching to see and the cast making up this found family – Jim Carter as Abacus Crunch, Natasha Rothwell as Piper Benz, Rich Fulcher as Larry Chucklesworth and Rakhee Thakrar as Lottie Bell – are all wonderful additions to the movie. Calah Lane as Noodle is adorable in every way, a little pocket rocket stealing hearts almost instantaneously with her cheeky loveable nature. Even more brilliant is how she is not simply there to aid Wonka’s story along but shines in her own right and her own story alongside his. 

Olivia Coleman never disappoints in anything she does, and her performance in Wonka is no exception. Her rendition of one of the villains of the show provides much amusement and whilst the theory is to have hatred toward Mrs Scrubitt, Coleman makes that somewhat tricky with her comedic acting choices. 

The songs throughout the musical are fantastic. All original songs composed by Neil Hannon, bar one repeat from a previous film (guess which), they elevate the film to something even more magical. The musical numbers are all distinctive and catchy, meaning at least one will be left in audience’s heads after the final credits have rolled, leaving people still humming them as they skip their way home; it also is a challenge in itself to not well up at the performance of the ever moving song ‘pure imagination’, which was a wonderful inclusion in the soundtrack and feels as appropriate as ever.

Something particularly endearing is yes, Wonka is great fun for kids, but it’s hugely healing for adults. It is a way to take adults back to the innocent fun of being a child. When magic was real, when a simple thing such as chocolate was enough to make most problems vanish and put a smile on faces and everything was an adventure. 

It may have come out at Christmas and have a festive feel to it, but Wonka is a film that has been – and will continue to be – enjoyed by all ages, all year around.

A perfect blend of comedy, emotion, heart and of course imagination, Wonka is a film that has a strong chance of standing the test of time and being beloved for years to come. Pure imagination and pure joy is the perfect way to describe this beautiful, heartwarming and delightful film. Wonka is wonderful in every way indeed, and a simple yet gorgeous reminder that we are all children at heart. After all, who doesn’t like a little bit of chocolate?