Most critics like it, and they like it for the same reasons. Timothée Chalamet’s earnest, guileless young Wonka draws praise in nearly every review, as does Paul King’s carrying over the warmth and daftness of his Paddington films. The songs, the production design and Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa are the other recurring pleasures. The reservations cluster around sweetness: several reviews find the film cosier than Dahl and miss the author’s spikier side, and a few think the plot too busy for its two hours. The spread is fairly wide for a family film. The Hollywood Reporter calls it cloying and twee, Sight and Sound finds it lacking the original’s mix of light and dark, and The Ringer argues the very idea of a prequel drains the mystery from the character. A smaller dissent runs the other way on the lead: Vulture and /Film consider Chalamet the weakest element rather than the strongest.
E
Evening Standard
7 December 2023 · Nick Howells
85*
The critic praises the film as a rollicking sweet treat that makes people feel good, highlighting Chalamet’s star turn and the flawless ensemble cast including Hugh Grant’s riotous Oompa Loompa. The songs and endearing characters are singled out for making the slim plot zip along joyously.
Wonka is a whimsical and wonderful tale that is hard to resist, a playful and heart-tugging take on the character that is smarter than it lets on. The critic singles out Chalamet's winning, guileless performance as the earnest young Wonka for particular praise.
King brings his Paddington touch to Dahl, creating a flawed but fulsomely crowd-pleasing musical fantasy that is every inch a Paul King confection. The buoyant, infectious tunes and sly social subtexts stirred into the fantastical setup are highlighted as strengths that deliver anti-cynical uplift.
Praises the film as a soul-warming musical with genuine charm, whimsy, and poignancy, highlighting the inventive songs, production design, and Chalamet's ebullient performance. Notes some undercooked supporting characters as a minor flaw.
The film breezes by on a waft of ingenuity, charm and warmth, with a huge generosity of spirit embodied by Chalamet’s benevolent Wonka. King’s delightful, daffy world and committed musical numbers are singled out for praise, though it does not quite reach the heights of his Paddington films.
A visually dazzling and charming prequel musical that delivers pure imagination and progressive sensibility; Chalamet's sensational, weirdly endearing lead performance is the standout.
A cosy, sweeter origin story that is a magical thrill ride thanks to Chalamet's assured and likeable young Wonka; it prioritises charm and positivity over the source's cynicism.
Paul King's prequel is a breezy, formulaic but charming musical comedy that amuses and delights while inspiring cheers. The critic singles out the exceptional performances, especially Chalamet's elegantly withholding Wonka, along with the tone and production design for praise.
Celebrates the film's intoxicating effervescence, masterful world-building, and Chalamet's warm, spirited performance suited to a prequel. Highlights the meticulous details, songs, and balance of whimsy with underlying menace.
The prequel is knowing, fantastical and full of heart but no classic, with Chalamet charming and earnest at its centre. King’s good-natured humour and the visually sumptuous, colourful world are praised, though fat-shaming jokes and songs that don’t quite match expectations are noted as drawbacks.
Wonka is a fun, rousing and impeccably staged old-fashioned musical prequel with Chalamet delivering a magnetically delightful performance as the beaming soul of effervescent goodness. The critic praises the infectious energy and lavish look but notes it is one of the squarest big-scale Hollywood musicals in decades and never fully levitates.
Finds the film mostly satisfying thanks to the director's recreation of melancholy sweetness from his Paddington films and strong supporting performances, particularly Olivia Colman. Chalamet is seen as the weakest element but the overall whimsy and weird touches land well.
The film is a bright, light and nice musical origin story with talented performers having a pleasant time. The critic praises Chalamet's enthusiastic performance as the wide-eyed innocent Wonka but complains that it is overly busy and overstays its welcome at two hours.
The film is overly sweet and lacks depth or the original's mix of light and dark, despite strong visuals and Chalamet's impish performance; Hugh Grant's Oompa Loompa provides welcome weirdness.
The critic finds the film cloying and hopelessly twee, criticizing its strained whimsy and aggressive charm that wears the viewer down. Some inventive production elements and supporting performances are noted but ultimately outweighed by the sugary excess.
A whimsical, frequently funny musical origin story guided by Chalamet's peculiar yet endearing performance; it brings comic sweetness like the Paddington films but risks cloying whimsy.
The critic calls the film an effervescent pleasure and intricately charming treasure trove, praising Paul King's formula of sweet-natured storytelling and Timothée Chalamet's fresh-faced, perky performance as the young Wonka.
The critic describes the film as one of the best times you'll have in the cinema this year, highlighting its velvety sweetness, inventive caper plot and Paul King's focus on texture and flavour.
The critic finds the film a cuddly, franchise-friendly version of Dahl that lacks the author's spiky wit, though it provides an enjoyable if undemanding two hours as a Christmas treat.
The critic finds this origin story of Willy Wonka a charming and original musical that feels fresh while capturing the spirit of Roald Dahl. Timothée Chalamet’s performance as the inventive candy maker is singled out as a highlight that makes the film a spirit-lifting delight for all ages.
The critic praises the film's joyful, musical nature and Chalamet's charming performance as a singing and dancing Wonka, comparing it favorably to Paddington films for its warmth and humor. They note some plot weaknesses but overall find it a sweet, festive treat.
The review highlights the film's charm, heart, and visuals as a sweet origin story with strong songs and Chalamet's impish charisma; praises Hugh Grant's comic turn but notes it's not perfect due to some narrative bumps and a fat suit gag.
The critic praises the film's spirit, optimism, and Chalamet's buoyant performance as young Wonka, along with Paul King's direction bringing warmth and wonder. They single out the overly busy plot with too many storylines and characters as the main weakness.
The critic praises the whimsical story, production design, supporting cast, and themes but complains that Timothée Chalamet's performance as Wonka feels inauthentic and dilutes the magic.
The review finds the film pleasant and enjoyable with strong production design but ultimately frivolous and too sanded-down compared to the 1971 original, lacking mystery and peril. It singles out the shift to making Wonka a straightforward protagonist and the emphasis on dreams as the key shortcomings.
The piece argues that the prequel's premise undermines Wonka's appeal by revealing too much about a mysterious character, despite good intentions and affection for the source material. It singles out the tired cliché of filling in the backstory as a fundamental flaw.
The critic finds the film hugely likeable family entertainment that is sparkling and better than expected for an origin story. They single out the production design, musical sequences, and ensemble cast for praise, while noting some quibbles with the final act and reliance on the 1971 film.
Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate
