Wonka, directed by Paul King, is a prequel that follows Willy Wonka in his journey into becoming the chocolatier that we all know. As he embarks on this journey, he must also deal with the chocolate mafia that want him out of their city. This has been one of my most anticipated films of the year, solely due to Paul King’s work on the Paddington films. I wouldn’t say that I held the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory close to heart; however, it was a revered film in my upbringing. Wonka did more than just be a great film. It brought me back to my childhood that feels so rare for films to do.

I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t hesitant of Timothée Chalamet taking over the Wonka role. He’s an impressive actor enough for me to put him somewhere in my top 10 favorite young actors working. I was concerned that he may have only been in the role due to his popularity, but his performance quickly won me over. You can see where he is channeling both Gene Wilder & Johnny Depp. This works out really well for viewers who want to accept one film or the other. Chalamet really give it his all as he balances different emotions that make him a sympathetic character. His singing in the film is also great and extremely effective.

The supporting cast is also great. Hugh Grant has a minimal presence as an Oompa Loompa named Lofty, yet he has a significant impact to the story. It is quite impressive how the technology incorporates his likeness onto such a small figure. There’s also Calah Lane who may happen to be the standout for many viewers. Getting the right performance from kid actors is already quite difficult. Paul King proves how easy it is to get the right performance. Her chemistry with the rest of the cast felt very sweet. Finally, there is Keegan-Michael Key who probably has the best comedic lines in the film, getting the most of the laughs from viewers.

Then, there are the musical pieces. I was quite concerned with this aspect. When I think of the earlier films, I don’t think of musical, yet the film seems to be heavily focused on that genre. I wouldn’t even say the film is a straight up musical from start to finish. Musicals are my least favorite genre, because it feels like films don’t always know how to get it right. I enjoy it when it feels natural and not just something that feels out of place. Here, they got it right. Not only do the musical set pieces feel natural, but they were extremely catchy. As someone who used to study music, I truly got the sense that they put a lot of love and care into making their music pop. I am going to make an effort to listen to the soundtrack this weekend.

The last enjoyable aspect worth mentioning of the film is the writing. The film is rated PG, yet at times, I felt like it was rated PG-13. It is no doubt a family movie. The film certainly caters towards kids. It also happens to cater towards the adults, making the script incredibly smart. It can be laugh-out-loud funny in certain areas and emotional in others. I would even say it’s one of the funniest movies of the year. On the other hand, the emotional core of the story really gripped me as Wonka’s story felt relatable. Much like Wonka, I, too, traveled to a new, unfamiliar land chasing my dreams while having to overcome certain challenges. It certainly moved me to see that in a film. That also happens to be why I love movies. They all can reach out and connect to others and that’s exactly what this film did for me.

Throughout the film, I was teetering between a 4 and 4.5/5. After some thought, a 4.5 feels justifiable. My friend and I got into the film just as the film started, so I feel like I may have missed something, because the set up did feel rocky. Rocky in a way that there was a lot to understand between Wonka’s motives, all of the side characters, and the overall location. I think on the eventual rewatch, I would enjoy this more as I like when films subvert expectations and I think they do this quite well in beginning. There is also the antagonist. I didn’t really have a problem with the writing of the character until towards the end where he began to just feel like a cliche of other villains who have to essentially explain to the audience why they are evil before they do the evil act. It’s a small thing as I didn’t feel that way until towards the end.

Overall, Wonka is a delightful surprise that will make you feel like a kid again. Director Paul King knocks it out of the park once again and proves that he is a director that understands how to effectively make kids films for kids and adults alike. Even with a little uncertainty in the setup, it soon brings itself back on track with breathtaking set pieces, phenomenal performances, hilarious one-liners, and catchy musical pieces. Add this one to one of the most surprising movies of the year. I had a feeling I would enjoy this, but I enjoyed it far more than I expected. But who am I kidding? I didn’t doubt Paul King.

VERDICT: Amazing