"Wonka" with Timothée Chalamet - A sweet treat for the holidays
He has spent seven years traveling the world, collecting exceptional ingredients from all corners of the globe and perfecting his craft as a chocolate maker. With a big goal and many recipes in his luggage, he finally wants to fulfill his dream of opening his own business and sweeten the world with his chocolate. But when young Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) is about to achieve his goal, the chocolate cartel led by Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas), Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton) and the local police chief (Keegan-Michael Key) stand in his way.
What's more, Wonka falls into the clutches of the brazen criminal couple Mrs. Scrubbit(Olivia Colman) and Bleacher (Tom Davis). He has to work off a horrendous loan with them, and is also in debt to the snooty Oompa Loompa Lofty (Hugh Grant). The young chocolatier finds active support in the orphan Noodle (Calah Lane), who is herself exploited by Scrubbit and Bleacher. Together they devise an ingenious plan to fulfill Wonka's lifelong dream after all ...
In the footsteps of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp
Director Paul King (45) has once again teamed up with his "Paddington 2" writing partner Simon Farnaby (50) for the screenplay, which is clearly evident in the storyline of the musical film: a naive main character fights against a deceitful system, but in the end, as in "Paddington", ingenuity, friendships and kindness of heart help him out of his misery.
With his role as Willy Wonka, Timothée Chalamet (27) follows in the footsteps of Gene Wilder (1933-2016), who played the charming and playful chocolate maker in 1971's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", and Johnny Depp (60), who lent him a certain aloofness and eccentricity in Tim Burton's (65) 2005 film of the same name. The young Hollywood star lends the chocolatier engaging charm and a childlike pathos - and quite a few dancing and singing interludes. He moves almost elfishly and mischievously, and in a certain way also seems somewhat unworldly and dreamy. And you increasingly wonder what must have happened in the chocolatier's later life to turn him into the Wonka we know from the previous films and the classic children's book by Roald Dahl?
Hugh Grant (63) may only be on screen for a few minutes as the snooty Oompa Loompa in dandy clothes, but he makes full use of them: His grimness and irony make the orange-skinned and green-haired chocolate guardian, who has shrunk to 30 centimetres, one of the stars of the film.
The rest of the famous cast is just as great: Olivia Colman (49) and Tom Davis (44) as the thieving duo, as well as Matt Lucas (49), Paterson Joseph (59) and Matthew Baynton (43) as the chocolate cartel trio. "Mr. Bean" star Rowan Atkinson (68) shines in a supporting role as a priest, while up-and-coming talent Calah Lane (18) becomes Wonka's lovable ally Noodle.
Conclusion
"Wonka" takes the audience into the magical world of Willy Wonka and paints a whole new picture of the eccentric chocolatier. Leading actor Timothée Chalamet once again proves his versatility and manages the perfect balancing act between childlike naivety and acting talent. And the makers have also succeeded with the musical aspect - even if it is kitschy at times: Songs like "A World Of Your Own" are sure to stay in viewers' ears. The film sparkles with magic, anticipation and hope and is the perfect family movie for the run-up to Christmas and has what it takes to become a real Christmas classic.
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- Matt Lucas, as part of the chocolate cartel, aims to hinder Willy Wonka's (Timothée Chalamet) dream of opening his own chocolate business.
- The film version of "Wonka" draws inspiration from both Gene Wilder's and Johnny Depp's portrayals of Willy Wonka, blending their distinctive charms.
- Hugh Grant delights viewers with his brief appearance as a snooty Oompa Loompa, adding a layer of humor to the film.
- Paul King and Simon Farnaby, who collaborated on "Paddington 2", have penned the screenplay for "Wonka", infusing the storyline with a familiar sense of underdog triumph.
- In a few years, Calah Lane, as the lovable character Noodle, will likely join the ranks of renowned actors in the "Wonka" cast.
- By portraying Willy Wonka, Timothée Chalamet provides both engaging charm and a sense of naive innocence, expressing a fascination that leaves viewers questioning Wonka's later life.
- Keegan-Michael Key, Tom Davis, Paterson Joseph, and Mathew Baynton, all while playing villainous roles, add valuable depth to the film's narrative and suspense.
- Olivia Colman and Matthew Baynton's performances as the duo Mrs. Scrubbit and Bleacher, respectively, contribute to their characters' exploitative nature, building empathy for Noodle's plight.
Source: www.stern.de
