By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB
Los Alamos
“Wonka” – released on Dec 15, will play one more day at SALA, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 4. The idea of a third film based on this character may not initially motivate one to take a piece of the holiday season for it. But, this movie musical may well be worth your time.
The film “Wonka” serves as a prequel to Roald Dahl’s 1964 book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. That book was first realized on the big screen in 1971 as “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” starring Gene Wilder, now a family classic. Since then, another version titled “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” starring Johnny Depp, came out in 2005 to mixed reviews. Fortunately for SALA moviegoers, “Wonka” is getting better reviews and is being considered a worthy companion to the 1971 film.
Playing Willie Wonka, we have an Oscar nominee, Timothée Chalamet (Dune, Call Me by Your Name). The film opens with him arriving in a grand European city with dreams of opening his own chocolate shop. Flashbacks to his late mother teaching him about chocolate motivate him. Willie has only a few coins in his pocket and a gift for magic going for him, but he is able to make chocolates with a miniature traveling factory located in his luggage. As soon as he lands, Willie falls into unscrupulous hands and runs into a powerful chocolate cartel, united in stopping him. But along the way, Willie makes life sweeter for people and befriends his fellow inmates in a laundry workers’ hostel.
Scrubitt and Bleacher Laundry, where some down-and-out folks have gotten into debt and must work it off, is run by Mrs. Scrubitt, played to comedic perfection by Olivia Colman (Best Actress for The Favourite). Downstairs among the laundry crew is another favorite British actor, Jim Carter (Downton Abbey) playing Abacus Crunch, a former accountant. In the confessional at the local church is Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) playing a chocoholic priest. The young ward “Noodle” of Mrs. Scrubitt becomes Willie’s protegee. Played by Calah Lane (This is Us), Noodle holds her own, singing and dancing with Timothée Chalamet in the musical numbers.
The songs in the film were written, or the lyrics rewritten from the original Willie Wonka film, by Neil Hannon (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy 2005) and the music composed or arranged by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. The score is credited to Joby Talbot.
Chalamet is quite the showman, with surprising gifts for song and dance. But an even bigger surprise will come when you meet the Oompa Loompa “Lofty”. The audience laughed a lot when he came on screen. Indeed, there were many moments of hilarity watching this film.
Wonka is “Rated PG for some violence, mild language and thematic elements.” But it may be a great film for elementary age kids through adults. If you want a pick-me-up movie, here’s one for you. Just don’t be surprised if you really crave chocolate afterwards.
