
WONKA
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Natasha Rothwell, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant
Director: Paul King

ADRIANO

I can't help but to like a movie that puts a smile on my face throughout. Wonka is not without its wasted characters and narrative squabbles, but director Paul King fills the film with so much heart and (pun fully intended) eye-candy for any viewer to enjoy, even if the original's darker undertones are mostly abandoned. And despite my initial reservations, Timothée Chalamet is funny and endearing, as is his young co-star, Calah Lane. The movie's intentions feel sincere enough to make the joyfulness feel real, and I was pleasantly surprised by this return to a world of pure imagination.

CALEB

Honestly, it took me a good 20 minutes to get past the fact that Timothée Chalamet was singing, but once I did, Wonka really won me over. There’s just so much to love about this movie. Chalamet is much better than I thought he might be, the songs are catchy, and the script is genuinely moving. While the film might be a little too sweet for some people, there’s no denying that director Paul King poured his heart into this project, and more children’s films deserve to be crafted with this level of passion and care. Wonka is a delightful surprise.

PAIGE

While Wonka is a whimsical and charming treat, the musical aspect of the film falls flat. It’s a full-blown musical that lacks powerful vocals from our lead, Timothée Chalamet, and has no memorable songs to go along with its journey of Willy Wonka trying to accomplish his dream of opening a chocolate factory. Plus, the film also plays it a little too safe, needing to be a wee bit more unhinged to satisfy my need for this prequel to Roald Dahl’s beloved character. All in all, this flick is a perfectly fine family-friendly film.

PRESTON

Wonka is director Paul King’s reimagined look at the life of Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet). The fantastical visuals are on full display with a competent cast, but despite its polished finish, I left the theater feeling unsatisfied. The overly saccharine nature of this somewhat forced musical had me feeling slightly queasy, and without any of the mystery or darkness of its predecessors, there was little incentive to emotionally invest in any of the characters, which caused many of Wonka’s antics to fall flat. The result is a decent, but excessively safe children’s story that leaves little for us older kids.

KATIE

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is one of my favourite films, and Gene Wilder's incarnation of the character is very close to my heart. So, I went into Wonka believing that I wouldn't be
impressed; however, it won me over almost immediately. The musical set pieces are spectacular, the songs are catchy, Timothée Chalamet is charming and frankly adorable as Wonka, and the tone is perfect throughout. I also am pleased that it employs nostalgia effectively, yet sparingly. It's unapologetically wacky and extravagant, and whilst it may border on sickly sweet for some, it's everything I’d expect from a Wonka musical.