Summary

Critics and film enthusiasts praise the directing, performances, and overall magic of the new Wonka movie, calling it an instant holiday classic and a delight. Timothée Chalamet’s rendition of Wonka is described as endlessly charming and a perfect amount of charm, naivete, and wonder. The film strikes a balance between nostalgia and invention, paying homage to the original while allowing the actors and director to flourish and evolve the well-known tale.

The first Wonka reactions have arrived on social media, painting an exciting picture of the upcoming fantasy film. Directed by Paddington’s Paul King and starring Timothée Chalamet, Wonka serves as an origin story for Willy Wonka, the iconic chocolatier first introduced in the 1964 novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The character has been played previously on the big screen by Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp. The star-studded film will also feature Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa, Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins, and Olivia Colman.

Despite the impressive talent behind the movie, the first Wonka trailer proved divisive upon its release, with some viewers seemingly put off by Chalamet’s rendition of the beloved character and the trailer’s tone. Now, critics and other film enthusiasts have taken to social media to share their spoiler-free reactions to the new movie, offering praise for Wonka’s directing, performances, and overall magic. See a few reactions below:

Zoë Rose Bryant describes the movie as “an instant holiday classic” and praises Chalamet’s rendition of Wonka as “endlessly charming.”

Perri Nemiroff was impressed by breakout star Calah Lane’s turn as Noodle in the film, while also offering credit to Paterson Joseph, Lucas, and Mathew Baynton for portraying “the PERFECT villainous trio.”

Keeping his review short and sweet, IndieWire’s David Ehrlich describes Wonka as “good” and shouts out King’s directorial skills.

Griffin Schiller calls Wonka “the family event of the Holiday season,” referencing the original Dahl novel in his praise for the new movie’s commentary.

Calling Wonka “a delight,” Wendy Lee Szany praises Chalamet’s turn as Wonka and says Grant “steals every scene he’s in.”

User @kenzvanunu describes Wonka as “absolute magic,” stating that Chalamet is “truly a movie star.”

Courtney Howard was also charmed by Chalamet, using an apt metaphor referring to the young actor as “a charisma factory” while also praising the film’s “bright, nimble musical numbers.”

Drew Taylor calls Wonka “a delicious confection,” giving King credit as “one of our most exciting filmmakers.”

Speaking for those put off by the first trailer, Kaitlyn Booth says, “Wonka took me by surprise with how much I liked it,” admitting that the movie “taps into that sense of wonder” from the original without copying it and that Chalamet “channels the energy of a young Gene Wilder.”

Why Wonka Works

Based on the early reactions, it’s clear that Wonka works because it strikes a balance between nostalgia and invention, paying homage to what came before while allowing Chalamet, King, and the others involved to flourish by evolving the well-known tale. Hype for Wonka was already high due to the beloved Dahl story and Wilder and Depp’s famed renditions of the candy maker, with these glowing reviews futher increasing it. It’s likely they will drive Wonka’s box office projections even higher, making December an exciting month for theaters between it, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Ferrari, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, and a few other releases.

The next Chalamet blockbuster, Dune: Part 2, is set to release on March 1, 2024.

Wonka’s December release date ensures that it will tap into the holiday spirit, attracting many families to the theater as stated in several of the early reactions. With recent early box office projections increasing to $35-$40 million, the newfound hype could be enough to push Wonka’s earnings above the $56 million made by 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. While Depp’s charming and mad version of Wonka remains iconic, it’s clear that Chalamet is on track to earn similar acclaim.

Of course, only time will reveal how Wonka fares at the box office, but the positive early reviews are a promising sign. Set to release December 15, the magical film will ring in the new year for many viewers, with potential to become a seasonal favorite. The early reactions are key in continuing the already astronomical hype for Wonka and possibly even attracting those put off by the divisive trailer.

Source: Various (see above)

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