“Wonka” Early Reactions: Timothée Chalamet is a Charisma Factory in Paul King’s Winning Confection
Perhaps we shouldn’t be the least bit surprised that Paddington and Paddington 2 director Paul King seems to have delivered a heartfelt and deliriously fun treat with Wonka. The early reactions are pouring in like a river of chocolate, and they’re deliciously positive.
Chalamet’s performance as the young chocolatier and confection wizard Willy Wonka is being hailed as a masterclass in charm and charisma, while the supporting cast and whimsical world in King’s conjuring of Wonka’s early years are all coming in for major praise. Production designer Nathan Crowley, in particular, is being name-checked for his contributions to the film’s sumptuous look.
Wonka reveals how the restless inventor of all things wondrous and sweet became the Willy Wonka that mesmerized millions of children, first through the pages of Roald Dahl’s iconic work and then in the 1971 adaptation Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, in which the playful, ever-so-slightly maniacal magician of chocolate was played by the great Gene Wilder.
Wonka is based on a script by King, Simon Farnaby, and Simon Rich and details how Chalamet’s Wonka faces a mountain of challenges to surmount, mainly in the form of a Chocolate Cartel that aims to thwart his dreams. Wonka includes a ton of music—Chalamet has seven songs himself—and a cast that includes Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa, Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Calah Lane, Colin O’Brien, Matt Lucas, Simon Farnaby, Natasha Rothwell, and Rufus Jones.
Let’s take a quick sweep of the Wonka early reactions below. Wonka hits theaters on December 15:
#Wonka cements Timothee Chalamet as one of the greatest up and coming actors. He’s magnetic, delightful & beautifully walks the line between naivete & cleverness. The film is filled with charm, joy & hope. It’s a perfect holiday film. It definitely has the rewatchability factor😍 pic.twitter.com/lldKjVOphm
— Rosa Parra (@rosasreviews) November 28, 2023
#WonkaMovie is unabashedly silly, and a perfectly charming family film. Wonka’s world is brilliantly designed, capturing the wonder of his early years.
Embracing a quirky, heartwarming tone, Wonka is funny and sweet enough to overcome any minor bumps in the road. pic.twitter.com/WPCxA2r1A9
— Daniel Howat (@howatdk) November 28, 2023
The first reactions for #Wonka have arrived.
Timothée Chalamet is earning raves and being called “infinitely charming,” “intoxicating,” “pitch-perfect” and “a blast to watch” in the lead role of Willy Wonka: “Chalamet is reason alone to see ‘Wonka.'”https://t.co/1nbsgRZBYb pic.twitter.com/l0xPCoMF8c
— Variety (@Variety) November 28, 2023
#Wonka is SHOCKINGLY good 😍🍭🍫
Paul King delivers a movie along the lines of#Paddington for adults
turning Wonka into a male #MaryPoppins!
The movie manages to be its own thing
and is as fun as seeing a live Broadway show!Definitely this year’s big holiday movie! pic.twitter.com/ezj0MaLKgo
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) November 28, 2023
#Wonka/ #WonkaMovie is a winning confection, filled with perfect amounts of charm, whimsy & poignancy, powered by pure imagination & bright, nimble musical numbers. Timothée Chalamet is a charisma factory. His full committal is intoxicating. Hugh Grant in exceptional IDGAF mode. pic.twitter.com/vjKJqqY6ll
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) November 28, 2023
#wonka is an instant holiday classic & a truly magical time at the movies 🥰 paul king’s whimsical style works as well here as it did in paddington, every musical number enchants, & the entire ensemble takes turns stealing the show, led by an endlessly charming timothée chalamet. pic.twitter.com/O887KYp4CY
— Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) November 28, 2023
#Wonka cements Timothee Chalamet as one of the greatest up and coming actors. He’s magnetic, delightful & beautifully walks the line between naivete & cleverness. The film is filled with charm, joy & hope. It’s a perfect holiday film. It definitely has the rewatchability factor😍 pic.twitter.com/lldKjVOphm
— Rosa Parra (@rosasreviews) November 28, 2023
Timothée Chalamet is reason alone to see #WonkaMovie. He’s infinitely charming & a blast to watch.
The movie around him isn’t as good but it’s enjoyable. The story & tone fight against each other leaving it a bit muddled. And yet it’s filled with joy & the songs are delightful. pic.twitter.com/s1zlqtzIgv
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) November 28, 2023
#Wonka is…dare I say…Willy good! pic.twitter.com/p9uuyN9OlG
— Ryan McQuade (@ryanmcquade77) November 28, 2023
If I’m being honest: I wasn’t expecting much when I walked into #Wonka.
But I fell in love with a charming, heartfelt and pretty spectacular musical that is a loving tribute to everything we love about the ‘71 original.
Chalamet is unbelievably fun and charismatic as Wonka. pic.twitter.com/Ywuej5Wg5Y
— Jake Hamilton (@JakesTakes) November 29, 2023
#Wonka is visually delightful. Shout out to Nathan Crowley, his world building is fantastical in every way. pic.twitter.com/JESCGvC4zS
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) November 28, 2023
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Featured image: Caption: Caption: TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET as Willy Wonka in Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures’ “WONKA,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jaap Buittendijk
