REVIEW: WONKA

4/5

Chalamet and the Chocolate Factory. 

116 Mins. Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman & Hugh Grant. Screenplay: Simon Farnaby & Paul King. Director: Paul King. In: Theatres. 

Call him by whatever name you like, but call Timothée Chalamet the man with the Golden Ticket to Hollywood. The 'Call Me By Your Name' star and 'Beautiful Boy' is about to go electric as Dylan, following Part Two to his epic 'Dune' saga with fellow generational great, director Denis Villeneuve. It's going to be quite a year, like it has been for his friend Greta Gerwig, whose movies ('Lady Bird', 'Little Woman') he's done the most in with bit parts. Now, he follows in the chocolate wrapper dropping footsteps of more than a meme, the late, great Gene Wilder ('Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory') and Johnny Depp ('Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'), collaborating with the Scorsese to his De Niro (or DiCaprio), to give us 'Wonka' (make sure you pronounce that properly), an origin story with a twist. Chocolatiers, lend me your ears, and taste buds, because you've never seen Willy Wonka (again, please pronounce it properly, for the love and all that is holy) quite like this. All in the same fall another friend of Tim ('The French Dispatch Of The Liberty Kansas Evening Sun'), Wes Anderson gives us his Netflix Roald Dahl shorts ('The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar', 'The Swan', 'The Ratcatcher', 'Poison'). Do-ba-dee-doo! 

The charming and charismatic Chalamet really is the greatest showman like Hugh Jackman, showing those worrying about his Zimmerman chronicles that he really can sing, and has even more in his back pocket. All to the tune of The Divine Comedy of Neil Hannon music on this 'National Express' to a London looking Big Smoke and mirrors. And to those haters that can't get with this festive feeling fall wonder, asking what's he doing with that suitcase of tricks bigger than Eddie Redmayne's in 'Fantastic Beasts'? You'll float too! He's making chocolate, of course? Now, how do you like that."Dark? White? Nutty? Absolutely insane?" With the perfect head tilt that shows, Timmy could play The Joker for Burton in another multiverse. But this is Paul King's mesmerizing musical fantasy. The man that brought a certain Peruvian bear with a penchant for marmalade to life, ladies and gentlemen. King has crowned an amazing achievement once again. Tip of the hat and cane to the superstar, he's studded with another franchise to his name. Sure, this candy coated, sweet treat of an extravaganza, may rot the teeth of most, but after the year we've had we could all use a spoonful of sugar to help this movie medicine go down. The air of Nike certainly know how to just do it...and go with it. Gift boxing Timothée with some iconic rarer than chocolate rocking horse crap, 'Wonka' edition sneakers to rock at the NBA's first In-Season Tournament cup that Hollywood won too.

Chalamet is as much a 'Wonka' (come on, now), as Depp and Wilder, at times even a wilder one. But there's more in this box of chocolates, where you never know what you're going to get. 'The Day Shall Come' when Calah Lane will become a star...and that day is today. Even with an all Academy of talent in this Hollywood hit-making, churning factory. One half of the iconic duo that's given us the new horror hallmark, Keegan-Michael Key is remaking his career in his own key of life too. And he's hilarious as a police chief who may be getting a little Wiggum at the waistline in this wonder. If that scares your paunch, perchance, then wait until you see the Chocolate Cartel. Led by 'Casualty' legend Patterson Joseph (there will be a risk of a diabetes medical emergency here), 'Shooting Stars' icon turned Hollywood hot property Matt Lucas (trying to shoot down this budding star) and the hilarious 'Gavin & Stacy' star Mathew Baynton (don't mention the poor). 

If that wasn't enough, the hilarious 'King Gary' in regal attire Tom Davis, and another legend in 'Downton Abbey's' Jim Carter are here. There are so many big names on board that even the legendary likes of Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson and Olivia Colman almost get lost in the shuffle, but you know big deals like that never could. The biggest being 'Notting Hill's' own Hugh Grant having the fun year of his career with this and his play in 'Dungeons and Dragons' ('Honor Among Thieves'). He's the funny little man that's being following Chalamet around. Yes, that's right, he's an Oompa-Loompa, but we can't believe they didn't get a real orange skinned person whose been Tangoed, or starred on 'Geordie Shore' to play him. As for the rest of the hate and debate, pleeeease! Just wait until he goes vertical, or dances. Once he starts, he can't be stopped. Just like this fountain of chocolate, that's just the ticket. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'The Greatest Showman'.