I didn’t expect to like “Wonka”. 

   I’m not a big fan of remakes –specially unnecessary ones. And when I saw the trailers, Timothee Chalamet just wasn’t giving the same quirky energy as Gene Wilder. Or even Johnny Depp! He didn’t have that whimsy, that quirkiness that Wonka requires.

   Nonetheless, I ventured to see the film with my brother and some friends, and I was pleasantly surprised.

   “Wonka” follows Willy Wonka (Timothee Chalamet), a young man seeking to carry his mother’s aspirations of creating chocolate to the Galaries Gourmet—also known as the top chocolate spot in the world. His naivety and big dreams cause him to debt to Mrs. Scrubbit(Olivia Coleman) and into trouble with the Chocolate Cartel. Nonetheless, he refuses to give up until his wildest dreams come true.

   I loved the music of “Wonka”. It had more of a musical theatre flair than its predecessors, which may make some unhappy, but was something I rather enjoyed. I especially loved the song “You’ve Never Had Chocolate Like This”, and it has been stuck in my head on loop  since I watched it.

   The writing was very witty, and all of the jokes, whether slapstick or just plain silly, got some chuckles out of me. I especially liked the “no daydreaming” sign and the “but sighs only come from thighs” bits. 

   The tone and energy of “Wonka” were similar to that of the “Fantastic Beasts” and “Paddington” series, and lend themselves well to Wonka’s story. It felt fun and fresh with a heartwarming core. It doesn’t try to be its predecessor, but rather builds a fresh origin for the titular character and expands on the universe. That is what really made it such a great film.

   Timothee Chalamet’s theatre kid charm shines through in “Wonka”. We see his goofiness, his musical ability, and the fact that, despite it all, the few years you spent in high school theatre are a part of you FOREVER. It’s a very fun side of his! If there’s anything to be said about Chalamet (besides his chestnut brown curls, jawline, and piercing blue eyes), it’s that the man has range.

   Overall, I rather enjoyed “Wonka”. It was whimsical, it was sweet, it was fun. I was pleasantly surprised.

   If you’re a fan of musicals and Roald Dahl, I’d give it a watch.