Wonka
2023
***
Director: Paul King
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Jim Carter, Mathew Baynton, Tom Davis, Simon Farnaby, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
This prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory explores the early years of Willy Wonka. The evil and corrupt Chocolate Cartel thwarts Wonka's plans to open a chocolate shop, and he ends up working in Mrs. Scrubbitt's launderette to pay his debts. Paul King, who directed the wonderful Paddington and Paddington 2, cannot repeat the feat with this fantasy musical based on Roald Dahl's characters. The CGI-heavy film is magical and whimsical but not particularly memorable. The songs were written by Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy.
