In the best possible
way Wonka is an old fashioned film whose central character doesn’t
bear many similarities to the sour chocolatier we are familiar with. If it’s
difficult to see how Willy Wonka, here breezily, relentlessly optimistic,
became that character in later life so perhaps that’s a story for another film.
This one presents him as youthfully idealistic in pursuing his dream of selling
his special chocolates. When he gets to the city he is constantly undermined by
formidable opposition from a trio of established manufacturers who have the
market (and the city’s authorities) in their pockets by bribing them with their
chocolate. Oh and it’s a musical which the trailers are ambiguous about, not
the first time this has happened with recent films. Its also tremendous
fun.
