Wonka, rated PG
*** ½   

Wonka is the delightful musical comedy prequel to the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film starring Gene Wilder (1971). The film tells the original story of Willy Wonka. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s Wonka books, the film was directed by Paul King (Paddington, Paddington 2), and the screenplay was written by King and Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2).
Willy Wonka is played by Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name, Beautiful Boy). Willy’s mother, played by Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water, Blue Jasmine), tells him that every good thing started with a dream. Willy travels the world, spending seven years finding the best ingredients and perfecting his chocolate making craft. Now he has come to a great city to open his own chocolate shop.
The main villains in the film are three powerful chocolate business owners – Slugworth, played by Paterson Joseph, Prodnose, played by Matt Lucas, and Fickelgruber, played by Matthew Banton. The three control the chocolate making in the city as well as the corrupt police force, led by the chief of police played by Emmy winner Keegan Michael Key (Key and Steele).

When Willy arrives in the city, he is quickly without money and is taken in by a local laundry owner Mrs. Scrubbit, played by Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Father, The Lost Daughter, The Crown), and her partner in crime Bleacher, played by Tom Davis (Murder in Successville).

~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~
But little does Willy know that he will end up owing Mrs. Scrubbit a great debt that he cannot pay. He ends up working with others in the basement laundry who also “failed to read the small print”, including Abacus Crunch, an accountant played by Emmy nominee Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), and Noodle, played by Calah Lane, who will become his best friend.
Emmy nominee Hugh Grant (The Undoing, A Very English Scandal), almost steals the show as Oompa Loompa, an eight-inch chocolate thief with an orange face and green hair, who is out for revenge and visits Willy while he’s sleeping. Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), is humorous as Father Julius.
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With everything he has going against him, will Willy ever be able to open his own chocolate shop?
The film’s songs (including “Oompa Loompa” and “Pure Imagination”), humor, production design, costumes, and cinematography are all well done.
This is a delightful film that the entire family will enjoy.
Watch the trailer for the film here.