Roald Dahl's truffled fantasy universe, and especially his Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has thrilled generations of children. So much so that the cinema saw a breakthrough in Willy Wonka, the eccentric chocolatier who makes the best sweets with the help of the tiny Oompa Loompas. First it was Gene Wilder in A Fantasy World (1971) and then it was the turn of the Tim Burton-Johnny Depp tandem in a blockbuster blockbuster with a kitsch aesthetic in which Freddie Highmore (Good Doctor) became known as the good boy in the family. Poor in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
Now it is the British Paul King who imagines the beginnings of the young chocolatier in Wonka, a musical comedy that is destined to be the family film of this Christmas season. This time it is Timothée Chalamet, the new big star of Hollywood since he emerged with Call Me by Your Name, who is in charge of taking over to compose a naive guy, with little money and a million dreams, who aims to honor the memory of his late mother (Sally Hawkins) opening a store in the famous Gourmet Galleries.
This ambitious young man with magician skills since childhood leaves everyone speechless and flying through the air with his wide range of delicacies, the ingredients of which he has collected in the different exotic places to which he has traveled by boat. However, a cartel formed by three chocolate entrepreneurs who do not allow competition will make his life impossible.
If in the two previous films the role of the villain was fulfilled by some repellent children accompanied by their no less repellent parents, in Wonka the protagonist encounters some abominable beings who only want to fill their pockets with wads of bills - like the mean owner of the hostel played by Olivia Colman – or they let their insatiable stomachs be bribed with kilos of chocolate, like the police inspector or the priest played by the eternal Mr. Bean Rowan Atkinson.
Chalamet's character will also meet good people who will help him in his task, especially Noodles, an orphan girl who will teach him to read. And with a petty thief Oompa Loompa with orange skin and green hair played by a funny Hugh Grant. King's film is a delightful entertainment with a colorful staging that moves in the style of Broadway musicals and plays with the emotionality and innocence already displayed in Paddington as great assets in a story in which the Franco-American actor approves with approval. note as a dancer and singer.
In addition to demonstrating his talent in drama and science fiction - his long-awaited presence in Dune 2 is delayed until March - it is clear that comedy suits him like a glove and Chalamet is a worthy successor to Wilder and Depp. Before its release in theaters this Wednesday, December 6, King is already thinking about a sequel. "I would like to spend more time in this world," he told Total Film magazine.
