Paul King has captured the whimsy and wonder worthy of Wilder's Willy Wonka. Fresh from the near-universally acclaimed "Paddington" films, and re-teaming on the script with "Paddington 2" collaborator Simon Farnaby, the King has once again created a film that feels wholesome, funny, and magically entertaining for the entire family.

For some reason, the marketing doesn't want you to know this, but "Wonka" is a full-on song-and-dance musical with new original songs and choreographed musical numbers. Though none of the new songs or their performances feel like they will live on to be as iconic as "Pure Imagination" or even Veruca Salt's "I Want It Now," they all carry that fun and fanciful feeling of a proper Broadway musical. 

"Wonka" is surprisingly funny, largely thanks to the supporting cast. Olivia Colman gave me some Carol Burnett/Ms. Hannigan vibes from "Annie" as the shrewd landlord/laundromat owner. Keegan Michael Key, as the head of the local police, has a running bit involving chocolate bribes that results in one of the best visual gags of the film. And if you've seen the trailers, you have likely seen Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa, which seems to put a smile on my face no matter how many times I see it. Even some of the more minor roles deliver some nostalgia in some unexpected ways. Jim Carter evokes Downton's Mr. Carson living a life of servitude in a basement. And Rowan Atkinson has the uncanny ability to make you laugh just by looking at his face.

King expertly weaves in meaningful nods to Gene Wilder's version of Willy without feeling like overt fan service. A brief backward dance step, a quick whip of his cane, or a casual turn of phrase all knowingly evokes Wilder but never in quite the same fashion. Timothée Chalamet's Wonka is all his own, filled with a wide-eyed, optimistic worldview. Some fans may be disappointed that this version of Wonka doesn't have a sinister undercurrent - no suggestion that Wonka relishes in placing children in dangerous situations. Personally, I never thought Wilder’s Wonka was a diabolical madman; it was just that he was intentionally misleading the public in order to suss out someone with a true heart of gold. With that in mind, Chalamet's pure-hearted Willy Wonka fits in with Wilder’s perfectly.

Chalamet’s charisma shines but never overshadows the truly excellent supporting cast. My only hesitation in fully embracing this Wonka is that while Chalamet can clearly carry a tune, he doesn't deliver anything close to an exceptional vocal performance. His vocals sound over-produced, and for a film that focuses a considerable amount on musical numbers, I would have preferred a much stronger lead vocal, and it's one of the reasons the new original songs didn't leave a lasting impression. When you can lean on an all-time great iconic song like "Pure Imagination," though, you don't need any new original songs to catch on. That song is still as magical today, seeing it on the big screen as it was when I saw it as a young boy for the first time. 

"Wonka" is, without a doubt, a wholesome, family-friendly experience at the theater. Paul King has further solidified his reputation in that regard. The entire cast exudes warm and boisterous energy that has me greatly looking forward to watching again with my children this holiday season.

— 4 / 5 ⭐