"Timothée Chalamet Shines in 'Wonka' Musical Prequel: A Review"

"Wonka," the prequel to the classic story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Paul King, fails to capture the charm and wit of its predecessors. Timothée Chalamet's portrayal of a young Willy Wonka is either overly exuberant or pining for his late mother, with transitions marked by jaunty song-and-dance interludes. The film's plot strays from Roald Dahl's original story, introducing a crooked cartel of chocolatiers and a coarse innkeeper, resulting in strained whimsy and gratingly arch characters. While the production design and choreography are impressive, the overall film feels sickly sweet and hopelessly twee, lacking the edge and magic of the original.