Jaap Buittendijk/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
The new "Wonka" movie is a mixed bag of sweets and duds.
In this prequel to Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," a young, driven Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) embarks on his journey to open the candy shop of his dreams.
Unfortunately, the plucky and naive Wonka decides to make his grand debut in a town oversaturated in chocolate stores — and the three prominent chocolatiers there don't take kindly to competition, quickly banding together to crush Wonka's ambition.
But this chocolate cartel isn't even Wonka's biggest nemesis. He's plagued with a trio of other unnecessary nuisances, ranging from a hot-headed innkeeper holding him hostage to a sneaky Oompa Loompa who's been stealing his chocolate. Then there's Wonka's biggest nemesis of all: the written word.
With "Wonka," director Paul King (who also made "Paddington") delivers a neither-great-nor-outright-awful musical that's slightly reminiscent of another Dahl entry, "Fantastic Mr. Fox." While it has a few delightful moments, it doesn't call for repeat viewings, unlike the 1971 classic starring Gene Wilder.
Warner Bros.
Though it's supposed to focus on Wonka's mission to open a chocolate store, much of the prequel gets sidetracked by a silly subplot where the chocolate maker gets bamboozled by two grifters all because he can't read. Olivia Colman plays a meanspirited Miss Hannigan-type a la "Annie" who traps unsuspecting travelers at her lodging for years in exchange for forced labor.
That may not be what audiences are expecting to see when heading out to watch a movie about a guy with dreams of a candy shop. It almost feels like a different movie intertwined with "Wonka" to pad the runtime.
There's also a bizarre scene in which Chalamet milks a giraffe that goes on for too long. We're here for Wonka's candy adventures and to see the magical effects they have on those who indulge — not an "Annie"-esque sideshow and a zookeeper subplot.
The prequel is most satisfying when it's focused on the cartoonishly evil chocolate cartel who will stop at nothing to ruin Wonka's dreams, or when it hones in on Wonka's chocolate making and the magic it unleashes into the world. Any dream can become reality with a simple sampling of Wonka's wildest candy creations, provided he can evade the chief of police (a very funny Keegan-Michael Key) long enough to sell them.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Effortlessly entertaining, Chalamet captures Wonka's quirky, eccentric personality as a natural P. T. Barnum showman. He commands the screen as the confident dreamer, whole-heartedly throwing himself into half a dozen musical numbers about making the chocolate empire of his dreams.
His lofty visions become more attainable through an endearing friendship with a young orphan, Noodle (Calah Lane). Every so often, Chalamet offers a glimmer of Wilder's zaniness and it's obvious why he was cast to play the younger Wonka.
Only one actor threatens to steal his spotlight.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Inspired by the sarcastic troop of orange men with green hair from the classic, Grant's a miserable curmudgeon of an Oompa Loompa.
Though the production notes said Grant joined "Wonka" because of his previous work with King on "Paddington 2," it seems the 63-year-old lost a bet as his performance more or less evokes a painful favor. Grant looks hilarious and bothered most of the time on-screen, but whether ironically or purposefully, it works to great effect.
Despite hating the motion-capture process, his grumpy turn as the CGI man who stalks the chocolatier serves as the perfect juxtaposition to Wonka's gullibility, offering laughs during his few short appearances. As Grant's animated body dances against his will as his face remains emotionless, it's as if he's well aware his torture is for the audience's benefit, and he's willing to pay the price for a paycheck.
Shockingly, there simply isn't enough of Grant in "Wonka." He appears for no more than 15 minutes, and the trailers already gave away a good chunk of his scenes.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
The "Wonka" poster claims moviegoers will discover how Willy became the legendary chocolatier by the time the movie ends.
While the prequel alludes to how Wonka eventually ascertains his factory, it does little to answer how this lively and vibrant Wonka eventually transforms into the lonely, isolated legend surrounded only by Oompa Loompas for company.
Throughout "Wonka," the main character forges friendships with the people around him, like Noodle, but the movie fails to reveal what becomes of those connections, which goes starkly against the lesson Wonka learns in the film's final moments.
But maybe those answers don't matter. Throughout "Wonka," Chalamet oozes infectious optimism and childlike wonder as he takes us on a journey packed with magical moments and simple joys, including a heartwarming rendition of "Pure Imagination." It's almost enough to get us to believe in even the most ridiculous plotlines — but it's still no "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."
"Wonka" is in theaters December 15.
