Although this is more of an original story since it’s not an adaptation of Roald Dahl‘s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this movie and its review have its place here because it tells the origin of Willy Wonka, a character in the aforementioned novel. Paul King, who might be best known for directing the Paddington movies, is behind this musical fantasy starring Timothée Chalamet (Dune) as the titular character with Calah Lane (This Is Us), Keegan-Michael Key (Pinocchio, The Prom, All the Bright Places), Matt Lucas (Alice in Wonderland), Paterson Joseph (Noughts + Crosses), Mathew Baynton (Ghosts), Hugh Grant (The Undoing), and Olivia Colman (Secret Invasion) to round out the cast.

Premise: With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.

Review: I’ve seen most of the iterations of this character and this movie is one of the most memorable. It looks like director Paul King and co-writer Simon Farnaby were the best pairing to bring this prequel to life, because as much of a cash grab as the idea of this movie is they infused it with the whimsy and childlike wonder it needed.

This movie pulls you in from the get-go, I quickly got emotionally invested in this wacky world with its colorful and sometimes cartoonish characters. It manages to make you focus on the great positive things in this world while still showing you the darker side of it. I oddly wouldn’t qualify it as a musical even though there are musical numbers. The songs are fun and entertaining but the story is far more memorable than they are.

As for the cast, this movie has amazing cameos and supporting characters that are scene-stealers. Even if you don’t already know these comedians their scenes are a delight but it really is Chalamet and Lane’s movie. Chalamet is an ever-optimistic and slightly naive Wonka, who doesn’t let the darker aspects of his life or his past dim his light. He plays that role with a nice level of quirk and a voice that fits the character well. Lane is the more grounded character still willing to dream and follow this odd young man in the off chance his crazy ideas could succeed. She’s a sort of Wonka’s Hype Girl who, despite her circumstances, is not yet jaded.

This Wonka movie is heartwarming and entertaining, it has an Annie, and Mary Poppins‘ feel to it but does not lose its identity.

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