There’s no doubt that I went into the theaters excited to see Timothee Chalamet jump into the role of
Willy Wonka, but did I know what to expect otherwise? Not in the slightest. For me, Wonka felt a little unnecessary since we already had the Johnny Depp remake of the original movie starring Gene Wilder.

But Wonka surprised me in that it took a completely new creative spin on things while also still keeping the bizarre essence Roald Dahl created. The directors did a great job of paying homage to the musical, book, and film, carefully incorporating elements of all while adding unique moments of their own. The Oompa Loompa was a great example of this, being not overplayed. Having a single Oompa Loompa references the original text and is adapted to the new version creatively with a completely new sense of whimsy and humor that gives an adaptation a sense of originality.

Additionally, the Chocolate Cartel, the prisoners, the zookeeper guard, and his long-lost lover were a great group of secondary characters. There was something so satisfying about how Willy Wonka’s chocolate and his schemes led all these characters to fulfill their objectives and overcome obstacles, as small as they might be. All of these characters bounced off one another so well and had their quirks that tied the whole film together so well.

I would also commend Timothee Chalamet for his performance, as following in Gene Wilder’s footsteps is no easy feat. Chalamet infuses the character with a great sense of humor, impeccable energy, and infectious enthusiasm. I loved that every so often, he dips into slight madness, a wink
toward Gene Wilder’s more unpredictable chocolatier, but he also makes the character wholly his own.

While it’s true that musical fans might enjoy Wonka more than the average person, I think there is something for every age and preference in this movie. It’s safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Wonka and would highly recommend that others catch it in the theaters before it’s too late!