From director Peter King, Chalamet’s Wonka has Paddington vibes.
But, like Paddington, Wonka defies expectations. The movie, which is out in theaters December 15, is absolutely charming and, dare I say, extremely Paddington-core. King has infused that same sort of warm, intelligent energy into his tale of an ambitious, kooky sweets purveyor who arrives in a vaguely European town with the hope of opening up a shop, only to have his dreams stifled by a pair of scheming launderers and an evil chocolate cartel. Timothée Chalamet may not be a furry little bear, but his Wonka is akin to Paddington. He’s an oddball optimist who inspires those around him — all except for the naysayers who see his good mood as an imposition.
It’s a worthy bit of holiday entertainment, the kind of movie that hits just right in these winter months. It’s sweet but not too treacly, not quite as perfect as Paddington 2 (what is?) but it does the trick.What is Wonka about?
While Chalamet’s Willy shares a similar fashion sense with Wilder — and there are homages to the 1971 film, including a rendition of the song “Pure Imagination” in Wonka — it’s helpful to look at this version of the character with completely fresh eyes. King and co-writer Simon Farnaby, who also wrote Paddington 2 with the director, have made Willy fresh-faced and naive.
He’s a young sailor who has finally bid farewell to life at sea with “12 silver sovereigns” in his pocket as he seeks to start life anew. By the end of his first song, he has no silver sovereigns but is offered a place to stay at a boarding house/laundry by proprietor Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Colman) and her menacing partner Bleacher (Tom Davis), who, with their ruddy faces and brash cockney accents, have a hint of the Thenardiers from Les Misérables to them.
