by Timothée Chalamet transformed into Willy Wonka for Paul King’s eponymous prequel to the beloved character, but that doesn’t mean the initial reaction wasn’t fraught with a few critics calling the film nuts.
Chalamet stars as a young entrepreneur trying to build a chocolate empire in the musical “Wonka.” The film is set 25 years before the events of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and the feature is considered a “companion” film to Roald Dahl’s original 1971 adaptation. Actor Simon Farnaby wrote the script with director King , reuniting after “Paddington 2.” King previously said that “Wonka” would draw on the magic of the “golden era of MGM musicals” that came from the 1940s and ’50s to tell the sweet story.
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Oscar-nominated star Chalamet didn’t have to try out for the musical after his viral high school raps went viral on the Internet and prompted director King to cast the actor as Willy Wonka in the prequel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, and Rowan Atkinson star alongside Chalamet.
Director King has previously raved about Chalamet’s “angelic voice” and compared his singing to Bing Crosby. “There’s a lot of range, because it goes from a few big things, to really emotional moments and he can do it all,” King told Chalamet. “I’m going to sound like a crazed fan.”
Although the Warner Bros. film does not beat theaters until December 15, critics attended the premiere and quickly took to Twitter to share their audience comments. The film was praised for being a “sweet” installment in the franchise, comparing it to “seeing a live Broadway show!” Chalamet is considered an intelligent and “magnetic” presence as the titular hacker, thanks to director King’s “whimsical” vision. The Oscar-nominated actor is celebrated as “both comedian and performer” through singing and dancing in his musical debut.
The consensus that “Wonka” was a pleasant “surprise” of a “classic” musical vacation certainly adds to the excitement surrounding the new Warner Bros. feature.
See more answers below.
I will simply say that the positive WONKA buzz is bothering me.
— DrewMcWeeny (@DrewMcWeeny) November 28, 2023
I did not expect #Wonka to be the most realistic film about human trafficking to open in a wide variety of theaters this year. Not criticism, but also not a joke. pic.twitter.com/j41WIdujzc
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) November 28, 2023
Surprisingly, I mostly enjoyed WONKA. Timothée Chalamet is an amazingly talented comic actor, cleverly leveraging his star persona for laughs. The staging is good and has a lot of heart and whimsy. I didn’t like the barrage of fat jokes though. Bad form in a delightful film. pic.twitter.com/rtqrATudfc
— Robert Daniels (@812moviereview) November 28, 2023
Timothée Chalamet is also excellent here, delivering a brand new interpretation of Willy Wonka that still honors what came before, and kills it as a comedian and performer. forget those trailers – this is a real movie star turn #permanent https://t.co/XxsDiWpxDz
— Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) November 28, 2023
#Wonka I was surprised at how much I liked it. It’s whimsical and taps into the sense of wonder we got from the original while doing its own thing. Timothée Chalamet channels Gene’s energy without making impressions. A great family movie for the holidays. #WonkaMovie pic.twitter.com/qJKHYwnPMH
— Kaitlyn Booth (@katiesmovies) November 28, 2023
#Wonka It’s far from perfect but there’s no denying director Paul King’s passion. The music numbers are hit, the visual imagination is delightful, & even Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa is a comic.
Timothée Chalamet is great even if his characterization is often questionable. pic.twitter.com/iml6JKgwg4
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) November 28, 2023
#Wonka it’s a wonderful delight driven by an exceptional and perfect performance from Timothée Chalamet. It can get silly and some plot points are a bit on the thin side, but a movie as incredibly sweet couldn’t stop with a hefty & very… pic.twitter.com/1SLMMRPSGY
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) November 28, 2023
Seeing Timothée Chalamet is one reason #WonkaMovie. It is endlessly charming & a blast to watch.
The film around it is not as good but it is enjoyable. The story & tone are fighting against each other which makes it a little sad. And yet it is filled with joy & the songs are delightful. pic.twitter.com/s1zlqtzIgv
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) November 28, 2023
#permanent It’s an instant holiday classic & a truly magical time at the movies 🥰 paul king’s whimsical style works as well here as she did in Paddington, every musical number is magical, & the whole ensemble takes turns stealing the show, led by chalamet timothée is endlessly charming. . pic.twitter.com/O887KYp4CY
— Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) November 28, 2023
#WonkaMovie It’s relentlessly silly, and a really nice family film. Wonka’s world is beautifully designed, reflecting the wonder of his early years.
Wonka is funny and sweet enough to overcome any little bumps in the road. pic.twitter.com/WPCxA2r1A9
— Daniel Howat (@howatdk) November 28, 2023
#Wonka cements Timothee Chalamet as one of the biggest actors to come. He is magnetic, delightful & beautifully walks the line between naivete & cleverness. The film is full of magic, joy and hope. It’s a perfect holiday movie. It definitely has the rewatch factor😍 pic.twitter.com/lldKjVophm
— Rosa Parra (@rosasreviews) November 28, 2023
#Wonka/ #WonkaMovie It’s a winning confection, full of perfect sums of narrative, expansion and intrigue, powered by pure imagination and bright, nimble numbers. Timothée Chalamet is a charisma factory. Her appearance is absolutely intoxicating. Hugh Grant in exceptional IDGAF mode. pic.twitter.com/vjKJqqY6ll
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) November 28, 2023
I think I’m allowed to talk about it #Wonka now… and I hate to report that I think he totally rules.
— matt rorabeck (@mattrorabeck) November 28, 2023
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