The New “Wonka” movie, starring Timothée Chalamet as the lead, made its premiere on December 15. Serving as a prequel to the famous “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory,” the movie introduces the upbringing of Willy Wonka and how he made his factory. While the trailers seem promising, is the movie worth it?
“Wonka” is the story of renowned chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka as he embarks on a journey to create his own chocolate factory. He sets his eyes on a vacant shop surrounded by the top three chocolate brands in the world, who proceed to plot against Wonka and go to any means to stop his production. Though having little money, signing a contract in which he is forced to pay back a ginormous debt, and having all sorts of authorities trying to stop him, he still hopes to make his dreams come true. Wonka encounters a number of different characters, such as an orphan called Noodle, played by Calah Lane. With the help of his friends and an oompa loompa, there is nothing to stop him.
With an 84 percent rotten tomato rating —a system to indicate the quality of the movie, the higher the rating the more ‘fresh’ a film is — the movie adapted all of the whimsical, joyous and trickster remarks that made the first movie wildly popular. Reviewer J. Don Birnam states, “The new Warner Bros. film, “Wonka,” makes you not only watch the original, but also this worthy successor, again and again.”
Donovan Purdy, a Junior at Millbrook, says, “I really liked the movie! Usually I’m not a fan of Timothée Chalamet, I thought he was just another pretty boy, but he actually does so well, and he brought a lot of energy to the character. You can tell he is Willy Wonka.” Other critics, like Andy Klein, claim the movie was “forced whimsy all the way.” Sean Collier agrees saying the almost 2 hour movie was a “Clunky, crowded story, and one that could’ve done with considerable trimming.”
“Wonka” has faced a wave of reviews, both negative and positive. The movie continues to rise in popularity. With its musical elements, the exaggerations in character, choreography, set designs (and more), it is no wonder the movie is a hit with families.
