What’s more fantastic than a factory full of chocolate? Well, how about an origin story about a man whose only obsession is to make the kind of candy that will make you fly — literally. That’s the central premise of Wonka, a sweet fantasy musical that fills in the gaps of Willy Wonka’s mysterious past.
Timothée Chalamet stars as a twentysomething Wonka who arrives in Paris wanting to make a name for himself in the cutthroat candy industry. Naturally, he encounters lots of obstacles, with the Chocolate Cartel trying to drive their new competitor out of business, out of town and possibly out of his mind. With the aid of an enterprising orphan, Noodle (Calah Lane), and grumpy Oompa Loompa Lofty (Hugh Grant), Wonka sets out to make his own kind of chocolate and lay the foundation of a factory that will delight millions of children around the world.
Wonka is almost entirely divorced from reality, which is exactly what you want in a fantasy picture. People sing and dance on a whim, and Wonka’s chocolate makes people float in the air in ecstasy. It’s silly and absurd, which is what makes Wonka such a joy to watch. Like Willy’s candy confection, there’s not much substance to it, but what there is is the kind of sweetness you’ll remember for a long time.
