"Wonka" reviews are out!
The critics full review embargo for "Wonka" has been lifted ahead of the film's Dec. 15 release.
Paul King’s WONKA starring Timothée Chalamet debuts to a 782% Rotten Tomatoes score pic.twitter.com/vQg15PgOrn
- The Film Drunk (@thefilmdrunk) December 4, 2023
(It's sitting at an 80% at the time of this post)
Timothee Chalamet passed on starring in "The Pale Blue Eye" with Christian Bale because his team wants him to have his own tentpole and show he can carry a big film on his own. So how is Timmy's Wonka? He seems to have won the golden ticket (sorry).
Read a round up of the reviews after the jump!
Synopsis: With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.
Variety: "It’s a trick to play someone this keen and innocent and eager and make him magnetically delightful, and Chalamet has the star charisma to bring it off... Chalamet sings in a pure heartfelt baritone, committing himself to lines like “Put your hand inside your pock-elet, get yourself some Wonka chocolate!” And it isn’t just the character who’s wholesome to within an inch of his life. As a movie, “Wonka” may be the squarest big-scale Hollywood musical in decades...It’s so square it makes 'Mary Poppins Returns' look edgy."
Next Best Picture: "While the visual effects are a bit wobbly, the absurd vision and design fit the rest of the film’s mood in all the right ways. Everyone is unified in following King’s vision, ensuring that every element stands out well... Chalamet is undoubtedly one of the best actors of his generation. His Wonka is amusing and charismatic, even if he never quite seems comfortable in the role. He shines more in films that utilize his naturalistic talents to subtle and dramatic effect. Nevertheless, he looks like he’s having a blast, and the sometimes chaotic energy he brings to Wonka’s quirks and mannerisms works well. He may not be the best singer or dancer, but his attempt to branch out and try something different is admirable."
The Hollywood Reporter: "[F]or this reviewer, the pretty, candy-colored Old World Europe created here, while impressive in terms of design detail, has all the appeal of those unwatchable Fantastic Beasts films. The vibe of the movie sits in the general Mary Poppins area, but the light touch that made King’s previous two features so pleasurable is in short supply... King’s claim that his star has a voice like Bing Crosby’s is a stretch, but while Chalamet’s vocals are on the thin side, they’re tuneful enough. He does better with dance duties, executing choreographer Christopher Gattelli’s moves - from vigorous tap and soft-shoe to more athletic turns - with nimble flair and a joy that the actor’s fans will likely find contagious."
IGN.com: "Timothée Chalamet strikes a respectful, earnest tone in bringing to life a character who has already been played to perfection. Despite the numerous direct ties back to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - mostly in the form of recognizable quotes - Chalamet’s performance never hews too close to an imitation of Wilder, and that space gives him room to put his own sense of personality into the role. The Oscar nominee is at the center of nearly every musical number in the movie, and though his chops on that front aren’t revelatory, he does deliver on the open-hearted, sunny tunes with zeal."
Slant: "If Wilder and Johnny Deep’s takes on Willy Wonka abide by the character’s darker impulses, from his hatred of parents to his indifference to the suffering of selfish brats, Chalamet’s Wonka is defined by his resourcefulness, ingenuity, and unwavering zeal. This Wonka is certainly a more palatable version of the character, but that isn’t to say that King has smoothed out the ominous undercurrents that flow through every other tale about the chocolatier."
The Wrap: "Timothée Chalamet is a strange choice for Wonka. He’s got the sweetness down to a science, but none of the bitterness that tempers that. His lanky Dick Van Dyke-ian dance moves range from respectable to “at least he tried,” and his singing voice is a bit underwhelming. He looks for all the world like a movie star who nabbed a role that was meant for a Broadway star."
Daily Beast: "Aiming for delightfulness and coming up with merely strained triteness, Wonka reconfirms the reliable pointlessness of prequels and the inimitability of true classics. Like an unwanted box of Valentine’s Day treats, its destiny is to be put on a shelf and promptly forgotten."
ONTD, will you be seeing Wonka?
Source Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 source 5 Source 6 Source 7 Source 8 Source 9
Paul King’s WONKA starring Timothée Chalamet debuts to a 782% Rotten Tomatoes score pic.twitter.com/vQg15PgOrn
- The Film Drunk (@thefilmdrunk) December 4, 2023
(It's sitting at an 80% at the time of this post)
Timothee Chalamet passed on starring in "The Pale Blue Eye" with Christian Bale because his team wants him to have his own tentpole and show he can carry a big film on his own. So how is Timmy's Wonka? He seems to have won the golden ticket (sorry).
Read a round up of the reviews after the jump!
Synopsis: With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.
Variety: "It’s a trick to play someone this keen and innocent and eager and make him magnetically delightful, and Chalamet has the star charisma to bring it off... Chalamet sings in a pure heartfelt baritone, committing himself to lines like “Put your hand inside your pock-elet, get yourself some Wonka chocolate!” And it isn’t just the character who’s wholesome to within an inch of his life. As a movie, “Wonka” may be the squarest big-scale Hollywood musical in decades...It’s so square it makes 'Mary Poppins Returns' look edgy."
Next Best Picture: "While the visual effects are a bit wobbly, the absurd vision and design fit the rest of the film’s mood in all the right ways. Everyone is unified in following King’s vision, ensuring that every element stands out well... Chalamet is undoubtedly one of the best actors of his generation. His Wonka is amusing and charismatic, even if he never quite seems comfortable in the role. He shines more in films that utilize his naturalistic talents to subtle and dramatic effect. Nevertheless, he looks like he’s having a blast, and the sometimes chaotic energy he brings to Wonka’s quirks and mannerisms works well. He may not be the best singer or dancer, but his attempt to branch out and try something different is admirable."
The Hollywood Reporter: "[F]or this reviewer, the pretty, candy-colored Old World Europe created here, while impressive in terms of design detail, has all the appeal of those unwatchable Fantastic Beasts films. The vibe of the movie sits in the general Mary Poppins area, but the light touch that made King’s previous two features so pleasurable is in short supply... King’s claim that his star has a voice like Bing Crosby’s is a stretch, but while Chalamet’s vocals are on the thin side, they’re tuneful enough. He does better with dance duties, executing choreographer Christopher Gattelli’s moves - from vigorous tap and soft-shoe to more athletic turns - with nimble flair and a joy that the actor’s fans will likely find contagious."
IGN.com: "Timothée Chalamet strikes a respectful, earnest tone in bringing to life a character who has already been played to perfection. Despite the numerous direct ties back to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - mostly in the form of recognizable quotes - Chalamet’s performance never hews too close to an imitation of Wilder, and that space gives him room to put his own sense of personality into the role. The Oscar nominee is at the center of nearly every musical number in the movie, and though his chops on that front aren’t revelatory, he does deliver on the open-hearted, sunny tunes with zeal."
Slant: "If Wilder and Johnny Deep’s takes on Willy Wonka abide by the character’s darker impulses, from his hatred of parents to his indifference to the suffering of selfish brats, Chalamet’s Wonka is defined by his resourcefulness, ingenuity, and unwavering zeal. This Wonka is certainly a more palatable version of the character, but that isn’t to say that King has smoothed out the ominous undercurrents that flow through every other tale about the chocolatier."
The Wrap: "Timothée Chalamet is a strange choice for Wonka. He’s got the sweetness down to a science, but none of the bitterness that tempers that. His lanky Dick Van Dyke-ian dance moves range from respectable to “at least he tried,” and his singing voice is a bit underwhelming. He looks for all the world like a movie star who nabbed a role that was meant for a Broadway star."
Daily Beast: "Aiming for delightfulness and coming up with merely strained triteness, Wonka reconfirms the reliable pointlessness of prequels and the inimitability of true classics. Like an unwanted box of Valentine’s Day treats, its destiny is to be put on a shelf and promptly forgotten."
ONTD, will you be seeing Wonka?
Source Source 2 Source 3 Source 4 source 5 Source 6 Source 7 Source 8 Source 9