Timothée Chalamet follows in Johnny Depp’s footsteps: Wonka will be released in cinemas this year. The chocolate factory prequel has been surprisingly well received in initial reviews
Will Wonka be the new Cats? The fantasy adventure with Timothée Chalamet looked opulent and at the same time stiff in the first trailers. The brightly colored world was impressive, but creations such as Hugh Grant shrunk into Oompa Loompa unintentionally tipped over into silliness. Initial reactions to the film were therefore eagerly awaited. Now they’re here – and they’re surprisingly good!
What is Wonka about? Paddington director Paul King tells the story of the chocolate entrepreneur Willy Wonka. In Germany, the character is best known for Johnny Depp’s portrayal in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from 2005. In Wonka, Timothée Chalamet (Dune) slips into the role of the magical candy inventor who wants to open his first store against all odds. And by the way: Wonka is a musical
Timothée Chalamet delighted: That’s how much Wonka is celebrated
(Wonka)
The lead actor Timothée Chalamet in particular comes off very well in the first reactions of the American press at X.
Germain Lussier from Gizmodo is blown away by his performance. In the short review, however, criticism of the film itself can be heard:
Timothée Chalamet alone is a reason to see Wonka. He’s endlessly charming and just plain fun to watch. The movie around him isn’t as good, but it’s entertaining. The story and tone fight against each other, which makes it a little convoluted. And yet it’s full of joy and the songs are delightful.
Critic Courtney Howard (Variety, among others) joins in the Chalamet praise:
Timothée Chalamet is a charisma factory. His total commitment is intoxicating.
Collider’s Perri Nemiroff also singles out Chalamet, but her praise is for the movie as a whole:
Wonka is a super charming delight, propelled by an exceptional performance from Timothée Chalamet. It can get pretty silly and there are a few thin plot points, but that couldn’t stop such an incredibly sweet movie with a hefty and very effective dose of sincerity from warming my heart.
(Wonka)
The author Zoë Rose Bryant was thrilled by Wonka’s opulence:
Wonka is an instant holiday classic [“Instant Classic”] and a truly magical trip to the movies. Paul King’s whimsical style works just as well here as it did in Paddington, every musical number enchants, and the entire ensemble takes turns stealing the show
Journalist Grace Randolph almost sums up her obvious surprise thus:
Wonka is SHOCKINGLY good. Paul King delivers a movie along the lines of Paddington for grown-ups, turning Wonka into a male Mary Poppins! The movie manages to be its own thing and is as much fun as a live Broadway show! Definitely the big holiday movie this year!
Conclusion: Is a visit to the Wonka movie theater really worth it?
It’s the reviews that count. The brief social reactions often tilt towards the extremes and therefore only ever form an approximate picture of the mood. But the trend for Wonka is right. He has positively surprised the press and that speaks for him. Paul King has probably not created a new masterpiece, the scratches in Wonka’s image are too clear for that. But that would also have been too much of a good thing.
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When will Wonka be released in cinemas? You can see Wonka in cinemas in Germany from December 7. If you want to get in the mood before then: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is streaming on Netflix and WOW in the flat rate
