Timothée Chalamet transformed into Willy Wonka for Paul King’s eponymous prequel to the beloved character; But that doesn’t mean the initial response wasn’t full of critics calling the movie crazy.
Chalamet plays a young entrepreneur trying to establish a chocolate empire in the musical film “Wonka”. The film is set 25 years before the events of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and the feature film is considered a “companion” to the original 1971 Roald Dahl adaptation. Actor Simon Farnaby co-wrote the script with director King and reunited after “Paddington 2.” King has previously said that “Wonka” will draw on the magic of the “golden age of MGM musicals” from the 1940s and ’50s to tell this sweet story.
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Oscar-nominated star Chalamet didn’t have to audition for the musical after his high school raps went viral, prompting director King to cast the actor as Willy Wonka in the “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” prequel. Along with Chalamet, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman and Rowan Atkinson also star.
Director King has previously praised Chalamet’s “angel’s voice” and likened his singing to Bing Crosby. “There’s quite a range, because they range from bigger, flashier things to moments of real, pure emotion, and he can do all of that,” King said of Chalamet. “I’m going to sound like a crazy fan.”
Warner Bros. Although the film won’t be released until December 15, critics attended the premiere and quickly took to Twitter to share audience reactions. The film was praised for being a “sweet” entry in the series and described it as “watching a live Broadway show!” Comparisons were made with . Thanks to director King’s “whimsical” vision, Chalamet was seen as an intelligent and “magnetic” presence as the chocolate maker. The Oscar-nominated actor has also been called “both a comedian and an artist” by singing and dancing in his first musical.
The consensus that “Wonka” is a welcome “surprise” of a musical holiday “classic” certainly adds to the excitement about Warner Bros.’ new movie.
Check out the other answers below.
I will just say that I find WONKA’s positive buzz confusing.
— DrewMcWeeny (@DrewMcWeeny) 28 November 2023
I did not expect #Wonka The most realistic movie about human trafficking will be released this year. It’s not a criticism, but it’s not a joke either. pic.twitter.com/j41WIdujzc
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) 28 November 2023
Surprisingly I mostly enjoyed WONKA. Timothée Chalamet is a truly talented comedic actor who cleverly uses his star persona for laughs. The staging is good and there’s plenty of heart and whimsy. But I didn’t enjoy the barrage of fat jokes. Poor form in an enjoyable movie. pic.twitter.com/rtqrATudfc
— Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) 28 November 2023
Timothée Chalamet is really good here; delivers a brand new take on Willy Wonka that still honors what came before and kills it as both a comedian and an actor. Forget the trailers – this is a real movie star comeback #wonka https://t.co/XxsDiWpxDz
— Zoe Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) 28 November 2023
#Wonka I was surprised by how much I liked it. It’s quirky and taps into the sense of wonder we got from the original while doing its own thing. Timothée Chalamet channels Gene’s energy without any impact. A great family movie for the holidays. #WonkaMovie pic.twitter.com/qJKHYwnPMH
— Kaitlyn Booth (@katiesmovies) 28 November 2023
#Wonka It’s far from perfect, but director Paul King’s quirky charm is undeniable. The musical numbers are successful, the visual imagination is great, and even Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa is a scene-stealer.
Timothée Chalamet is great, even if his characterization is often questionable. pic.twitter.com/iml6JKgwg4
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) 28 November 2023
#Wonka It’s a super-charming delight, backed by Timothée Chalamet’s outstanding and excellent performance. It can get pretty silly and there are a few plot points that are a little weak, but it makes for such an incredibly sweet movie, heavy and very… pic.twitter.com/1SLMmRPSGY
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) 28 November 2023
The only reason to see Timothée Chalamet #WonkaMovie. It is extremely attractive and very enjoyable to watch.
The movie around it isn’t that good, but it’s entertaining. The story and tone battle each other, leaving it a bit muddled. But it’s still full of joy and the songs are lovely. pic.twitter.com/s1zlqtzIgv
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) 28 November 2023
#wonka An instant holiday classic and truly magical moments in cinema 🥰 Paul King’s quirky style works here as well as in Paddington, each musical number captivates and the entire ensemble takes turns stealing the show, led by an endlessly charming Timothée Chalamet. pic.twitter.com/O887KYp4CY
— Zoe Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) 28 November 2023
#WonkaMovie It’s an unashamedly silly and utterly charming family movie. Wonka’s world is cleverly designed to reflect the wonder of his early years.
Adopting a quirky, heartwarming tone, Wonka is funny and sweet enough to overcome the smallest bumps in the road. pic.twitter.com/WPCxA2r1A9
— Daniel Howat (@howatdk) 28 November 2023
#Wonka It proves that Timothee Chalamet is one of the best up-and-coming actors. She’s charming, delightful, and walks the line between naivety and smarts beautifully. The film is full of charm, joy and hope. The perfect holiday movie. Definitely has a rewatchability factor😍 pic.twitter.com/lldKjVOphm
— Rosa Parra (@rosasreviews) 28 November 2023
#Wonka/ #WonkaMovie is a winning confection filled with the perfect amount of charm, quirk and pathos, backed by pure imagination and bright, nimble musical numbers. Timothée Chalamet is a charisma factory. His complete devotion is intoxicating. Hugh Grant is in phenomenal IDGAF mode. pic.twitter.com/vjKJqqY6ll
—Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) 28 November 2023
I think I’m allowed to talk about #Wonka Now… and I hate to say that I definitely think this is the rule.
— matt rorabeck (@mattrorabeck) 28 November 2023
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