The chocolate factory is open again

It has been 18 years since Willy Wonka made his last screen appearance to date. Back then, Johnny Depp played him. In "Wonka", Timothée Chalamet now slips into the title role and takes everyone on a fantastic journey to the chocolate side of cinema.

It is one of the most iconic roles in Johnny Depp's career. In the 2005 remake of Roald Dahl's classic children's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", he played Willy Wonka, a confectionery specialist who is as ingenious as he is crazy. And all under the aegis of his presumed favorite director Tim Burton, for whom he has already been in front of the camera eight times to date.

The fact that Depp was no longer the first choice for the title role in the prequel "Wonka", which is now being released in cinemas, probably has nothing to do with his war of the roses with ex Amber Heard. After all, Burton is not involved this time either. Instead, "Paddington" maker Paul King directed. And the now 60-year-old Depp would probably have been simply too old to play the youthful Willy Wonka.

The fact that Timothée Chalamet, who has been on the rise since the science fiction hit "Dune" (2021), slips into the role instead is not without a certain irony. After all, he was already being touted as Depp's potential son-in-law after being in a relationship with his daughter Lily-Rose for around two years. However, Chalamet assured the audience at the "Wonka" premiere in London that he had not sought advice from his ex's father for the portrayal of Willy Wonka.

A dream with obstacles

And why would he? The 27-year-old manages to breathe melt-in-your-mouth life into the quirky chocolate freak quite well on his own. When Wonka goes ashore after seven long years at sea, he dreams of finally bringing the creations of his passion to the people in the luxury department store "Galleries Gourmet". Inspired by his late mother, who always spoiled him with chocolate, he eventually became a grand master chocolatier during his travels. His chocolate not only creates an explosion of flavor. It literally gives those who eat it wings.

This time Timothée Chalamet slips into the role of the chocolate manufacturer.

But Wonka soon encounters a number of obstacles in the way of realizing his dream. It's not just the local chocolate manufacturers who want to get rid of their annoying competitor quickly with the help of the police chief with a sweet tooth. Wonka also falls into the clutches of an unscrupulous pair of crooks, with whom he spends the night after his shore leave. After blindly signing a shady contract, he is forced to slave away in the scoundrel hostel's laundry room - along with other victims who have been similarly ripped off. And to make matters worse, he is regularly visited by an orange man with green hair who steals his chocolate ...

We could reveal a lot more about the story, but we really shouldn't spoil too much so as not to anticipate the movie's humor, surprises and aha moments. In order not to spoil the fun, it's not even worth going into too much detail about the actors and their respective roles. Just this much: the ensemble includes US comedian Keegan-Michael Key, newcomer Calah Lane and British pros such as Sally Hawkins, Olivia Colman and Jim Carter as well as Hugh Grant and Mr. Bean alias Rowan Atkinson. But it's best for everyone to see for themselves what they get up to on screen in "Wonka".

There is singing

With this film, director Paul King conjures up a colorful, quirky, fantastic, humorous and loving journey to the chocolate side of cinema that has nothing to hide behind "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". "Wonka" is a family film in the best sense of the word, which seems almost old-fashioned between Panem, Marvel and other Bum Bum, but with its fairy-tale charm is actually a perfect fit for the pre-Christmas period. It's easy to get over the la-la-la that can be heard from time to time during the almost two-hour running time - like its predecessor with Johnny Depp and its predecessor from 1971 with Gene Wilder, "Wonka" is a musical film.

It goes without saying that the "Oompa Loompa Song", which has become a cult song, is also performed. The small Oompa-Loompas, whose raw materials from a distant tropical country give Wonka's chocolate its real kick, naturally also play a role in this film based on Roald Dahl's "Chocolate Factory" fantasies. Even after the publication of his novel, Dahl had to put up with the accusation that he was recklessly using colonialist clichés. Nowadays, the Oompa-Loompa portrayal is likely to attract even more criticism, especially as in "Wonka" an actor who was actually tall was shrunk using film technology.

That may be debatable. But anyone who gets caught up in this debate will unfortunately miss out on the magic of "Wonka".

"Wonka" is now showing in German cinemas

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Hugh Grant joins the star-studded cast of "Wonka", adding his charm to the fantasy-filled cinematic world. In a departure from his usual roles, Grant takes on an unspecified character in this musical adaptation.

Fantasy cinema has always had a place for beloved British actors, and Hugh Grant's inclusion in "Wonka" is a testament to this enduring trend. His versatility has allowed him to excel in both comedy and drama, making him a welcome addition to the genre's rich history.

Source: www.ntv.de