Wonka (PG)

"Wonka" is a musical fantasy film that serves as an origin story of the character of Willy Wonka from the novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl.

Directed by Paul King ("Paddington" 1 and 2) and starring Timothée Chalamet in the lead role.

In an unnamed European town, inventor and magician Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) arrives to fulfil his childhood dream of running his own chocolate shop. Searching for a place to stay, Wonka stumbles upon a laundromat run by the suspicious Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Colman), who offers him a room so long as he signs a contract.

After failing to read the fine print, Wonka finds himself in debt to Mrs. Scrubbit and is forced to work around the clock to earn his freedom. While labouring away, Wonka meets five other people who are also indebted to Mrs. Scrubbit's contract; young orphan Noodle (Calah Lane), plumber Piper (Natasha Rothwell), accountant Abacus (Jim Carter), phone operator Lottie (Rakhee Thakrar), and comedian Larry (Rich Fulcher).

The five prisoners inform Wonka that the city is controlled by the "Chocolate Cartel", a trio of greedy chocolate makers - Mr. Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Mr. Prodnose (Matt Lucas), and Mr. Fickelgruber (Mathew Boynton) - who are fiercely determined to eliminate any potential competition. Wonka teams up with his five new friends to hatch a scheme to bring down the cartel and make his chocolate available to everyone no matter their financial situation.

Cast: Willy Wonka - Timothee Chalamet

         Mrs. Scrubitt - Olivia Coleman

         Bleacher - Tom Davis

         Oompa Loompa - Hugh Grant

         Father Julius - Rowan Atkinson

Director: Paul King

Worldwide Box Office : $588,117,290

Nominations and Awards : Golden Globe Award Nominee for Best Actor, Nominated for BAFTA award for outstanding British Film

Trivia: Several musical cues from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) are also in this film, although orchestrated slightly differently. The most obvious is the song 'Pure Imagination', which is sung in its entirety by Timothee Chalamet towards the end of the movie.

In the opening number, Willy Wonka drops a coin down a storm grate. In Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), Charlie Bucket finds a coin in the storm drain.

Wonka's bottles of impossible substances, are reused dream bottles of The BFG.

Lulus verdict: A glorious musical prequel to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory told beautifully in true British Paddington style. Chalamet is seamless and conveys the role with ease but for me the real stars are the co stars Coleman, Davis, Grant, Atkinson, Keegan and many more all of whom add sparkle and humour to this Dahl classic.