Wonka

In cinemas now

It’s unsurprising that, after their Paddington 2 exploits, Paul King and Simon Farnaby are now perceived as two of Hollywood’s go-to men when a studio is looking to breathe life into a dormant property. That is clearly the thinking behind Wonka, the origin story of Roald Dahl’s eccentric chocolatier, which has more than a touch of Paddington about it, be it its witty dialogue, arresting visual palette, or ensemble cast of (predominantly British) thespians.

Timothée Chalamet is tasked with donning the deep purple overcoat that Gene Wilder originally made famous and, awkwardly, isn’t the best thing about this film. Despite being a self-proclaimed ‘song and dance man’, Chalamet doesn’t entirely excel in a zanier role that is far removed from the more dramatic material that, along with his boyish good looks, has made him a household name, although he undeniably looks the part and isn’t helped much by Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy’s rather forgettable musical numbers.

More impressive is relative newcomer Calah Lane, who pretty much steals the show as Noodle, an orphan who befriends our titular protagonist and, along with a rogue’s gallery of compadres, help him make his fortune.

Like any classic Dahl tale, the villains of Wonka are also mightily good fun, with Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, and Mathew Baynton providing plenty of laughs as the dastardly chocolate cabal who attempts to thwart the heroes’ progress. Olivia Colman and Tom Davis are also good value as the wicked proprietors of a boarding house with rather onerous terms of stay.

This is without mentioning Hugh Grant’s performance as an Oompa-Loompa, which frankly has to be seen to be believed.

All in all, Wonka is a perfectly fine family flick that perhaps benefits most from its timely scheduling, which is idyllic for this time of year.