WONKA (2023)
A FILM OF “PURE IMAGINATION” MAGIC
Considered as “one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th Century”, famed children’s author Roald Dahl has delighted and enchanted readers for generations, capturing childlike wonder and imagination within his releases. One of his most famous publications novels comes from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was released in 1964, and follows the journey of young Charlie Buckets who is invited inside, along with other children, a magical chocolate factory that belongs to the eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. Given the popular success that the novel received, it comes at no surprise that Hollywood would eventually want to adapt Dahl’s tale of Charlie Buckets, with the release of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1971. Directed by Mel Stuart, the film, which starred Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, and Peter Ostrum, received generally positive reviews from critics, but did not have a financial success at the box office, only earning $4 million at the box office (during its original run) against a production budget of $3 million. Over the years, however, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory became an instant family classic and has been a rereleased several time on home video sales and repeated television airings. In 2014, the movie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. The 1971 version wouldn’t be the only film adaptation made by Hollywood as a second attempt was made back in 2005 with the release of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Directed by Tim Burton, the film, which starred Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Deep Roy, and Christopher Lee, received positive critical reviews, who praised the feature for its visual appeal and underlining dark tones (something that is notable in Dahl’s works). It was also a box office success, with the film generating $475 million at the box office (the eight-highest grossing film of 2005) against its production budget of $150 million.
Now, Warner Bros. Pictures (along with Heyday Films) and director Paul King, prepare to return to the wacky and eccentric world of Roald Dahl’s eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka for a prequel endeavor in the movie Wonka. Does this latest look at Dahl’s beloved character worth seeing or is it pale in comparison to the other two film adaptation releases.
THE STORY
Aspiring magician, inventor, and chocolatier, Willy Wonka (Timothee Chalamet) arrives in the big city, ready to make his mark with the people, with a dream of opening his own shop in the famous Galeries Gourmet district. However, with little money to make that dream a reality, the newly arrived Willy finds it difficult to reach such aspirations. Finding lodging with Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Coleman) and her right hand henchmen Bleacher (Tom Davis), Willy is duped into charges he can’t pay, forced into work off his debit in a laundromat operation, joining by young orphan Noodle (Calah Lane), Abacus Crunch (Jim Carter), Piper Benz (Natasha Rothwell), Larry Chucklesworth (Rich Fulcher), and Lottie Bell (Rakhee Thakrar) in hard labor. Looking to find a way out his situation, Willy befriends Noodle, using her wisdom and ability to read to help understand the community, which is ruled by a “chocolate cartel”, with Arthur Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Fickelgruber (Matthew Baynton), and Prodnose (Matt Lucas) holding a monopoly on the chocolate selling at the Galeries Gourmet, doing whatever they can to protect their secretive supply of chocolate vat hidden under a church. Looking to challenge the companies with his own special creations and magician like performances, Willy hopes to establish himself and pay tribute to his late mother (Sally Hawkins), his inspiration for becoming a chocolatier.
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