Film Review: Wonka 旺卡(2023) - USA UK 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia 🇦🇺)
The beauty of Paul King’s imagination of “Wonka” are clearly the dreams that do come true. This is the undeniably the aspect that comes “Wonka” a film that dwells into our own inner dreams and ambition of who we ultimately want to be. It doesn’t matter what the subject matter is about, it can be chocolate, it is can betterment of humanity or even our own self, but the film manages to invokes that inner kid within us to continue to believe in our own dreams. That’s something not every film can do, or must do.
Timothee Chalamet is an extremely talented actor in the works and as the famed Ronald Dahl’s character titled “Wonka”. The film focuses on the humble upbringing of Wonka and how he overcame all odds and adversity to create the world’s greatest chocolate factory ever known to man-kind. Chalamet has plenty of charisma to make a clear impression and his depiction of Wonka is an absolutely joy to watch. Playing Wonka’s partner in crime is Calah Lane, who teams up well with good chemistry. Others include the much missed Rowan Atkinson as the corrupted head priest are notable fun.
All in all, “Wonka” works well as King reminds us to dream a little more and believe in our own ambitions. The film never goes overboard, but still manages to showcase a different kind of “Wonka” who we have grown to known thru the various “Charlie and the Chocolate factory” adaptations. That’s the beauty of cinema as it allows us to dream the dream and that’s hows reality can happen.
I rated it 8/10
Director
Paul King
Cast
Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas