Review | “Wonka”: A Cinematic Treat
The first trailer for Wonka didn’t exactly shoot this origin tale up to the top of my most anticipated 2023 releases. That being said, Paul King’s film is far, far better than anyone could’ve expected. This prequel/soft reboot/re-imagining for the titular chocolate maker is an exceedingly sweet, heartfelt treat of a movie perfect for the holiday season. The absence of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’s darker undertones and tongue-and-cheek humor is largely gone from this film — which could be seen as an issue if one were hoping for there to me more to this feel-good story — but the wonder and whimsy of Willy Wonka’s world makes this a joyous theater experience.
A young Willy Wonka, after spending 7 years at sea discovering a host of ingredients for his visionary chocolate enterprise, makes his way to Galeries Gourmet where he dreams of opening his own chocolate shop. However, building his own shop won’t be as easy as he once thought, as the so-called “Chocolate Cartel” — chocolatiers Mr. Slugworth, Mr. Prodnose, and Mr. Fickelgruber — are doing everything in their power to hold onto their chocolate monopoly, going as far as to bribe the Chief of Police in chocolate to do their bidding. With the help of a young girl named Noodle, Wonka stops at nothing to carry out his chocolate dream that he — and his late mother — wish to give to the world.
