Wonka is a charming family movie that is perfect for a day out at the movies during the holidays. I loved the Gene Wilder original and thought the Johnny Depp remake was fun too and this prequel is a fun take on the legend of Willy Wonka. I will say that I kind of wish I saved this for our Christmas Eve movie theater trip instead of Aquaman 2, but hey what is done is done.
How to Download Wonka
Wonka was released on December 15, 2023. You should be able to download it from digital platforms about 45 days after its initial release. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and check the current availability.
The Movie Review
A Unique Take on Willy Wonka’s Origin
Unlike the Tim Burton Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie, this is not a remake or retelling of the classic Roald Dhal novel that those of us who grew up in the UK all read during our school days. This is brought to us by director Paul King (who also had a hand in the script) and it is an origin story for Willy Wonka, the man who would go on to become the most famous chocolatier in the world!
Willy Wonka shows up in a city with the hopes of making it big as a chocolatier. Willy Wonka is not your normal chocolatier, he is also a magician and inventor and has a real showmanship vibe about him. He may be lacking in funds, but he has a lot of heart and a can-do attitude and you take to him pretty much right away.
Timothee Chalamet’s Performance as Young Wonka
Timothee Chalamet does a wonderful job here, he puts his own spin on the character and is so different to both Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp. He is a bit harder to compare to the other two as this is Willy Wonka before he became the recluse that he would be in both Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Wonka’s Struggle Against a Chocolate Cartel
The thing is, Wonka’s dreams take a dire turn! Turns out that this town is run by a chocolate cartel and they do not take too kindly to Wonka trying to get in on their territory. It is fun, but it also makes you think as well as it is like what we have today with these big businesses crushing the smaller guys before they can even get a chance to get going.
Wonka’s Journey and Hugh Grant’s Role
Wonka ends up being swindled and forced to work off a huge and fair debt. Thankfully, Wonka picks up a few friends along the way and they work together. They work to make his creative, fun, and delicious chocolate, but also to try and free them all from this debt that they have over their heads.
For a movie that is aimed at kids/families, there is more substance to the story of Wonka than you would think. It runs at a little under two hours and the movie flew by and I was having a lot of fun the whole time I was watching it. I know that there is a fair bit of controversy about Hugh Grant playing the Oompa-Loompa Lofty, but he is fantastic in this role and you can tell that he was having a lot of fun with it.
Final Recommendation for Wonka
I highly recommend that you check this one out. If you are looking for something light, fun, and perfect to watch with the family during the holidays, this makes for a great day out at the cinema. I am pretty sure that this is one that I will be picking up when it comes out on 4K.
