Wonka Review: Timothée Chalamet Struggles To Fully Embrace Willy Wonka In A Visually Vibrant Musical

Not every character needs an origin story, but Willy Wonka, the character from Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, gets one in Wonka. Directed by Paul King, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby, Wonka attempts to bring the whimsical and light-hearted tone that melted our hearts in Paddington and its much-beloved sequel Paddington 2. But Wonka is not Paddington, and though it has its merits, an excellent supporting cast, and a few fun musical numbers, Wonka wobbles in its journey and storylines even while remaining heartfelt.