Timothée Chalamet is a prime example of Gen Z media fascination. Some would describe the rising movie star as the male “it girl” for young people” (Emily Pineda, a teenage film major). Chalamet is an Oscar-nominated actor with an impressive streak of recent box-office-leading roles in films such as Dune, Bones and All, and Little Women. These are very serious films, with the only exception being Paul King’s fantastical Wonka (2023), a “companion piece” to the 1971 classic, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
A Quick Summary
The movie follows a young chocolatier, Willy Wonka (played by Chalamet), as he aims to establish his very own chocolate store at the Gallery Gourmet, where the best chocolate in the world is made! The film is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and depicts how Wonka came to be the great chocolatier many know so well! Chalamet’s character is eccentric and silly, calling back to Gene Wilder’s original performance in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) with lines like, “So quiet up and listen down–nope scratch that reverse it!”
I found the adventurous and heartfelt story charming. There is a certain kind of charisma and relatability captured in all of Chalamet’s roles, and Wonka is not excluded from this mastery. Through Chalamet, we can experience the joyous feeling of having big dreams and persisting to achieve what we seek. But, in the end, Willy learns that success isn’t mastery; it’s having people to love!
Wait, He Sings in this movie?
Audiences were surprised to see that Wonka is interwoven with musical scenes, like the 1971 version. Some even chose not to watch the film based on this fact! When discussing the film with my friend, a fan of Chalamet, Gracie Viega stated, “I’m hesitant to watch the Wonka movie because I have such an idolized image of Timothee Chalamet. I truly think watching him sing and dance in those little outfits may burst that bubble I have of him in my mind.”
This is an interesting point because people are used to seeing Chalamet play dreamy, down-to-earth characters. It’s different to see him play such an animated, musical character that people don’t associate with that “coolness.” Many creators on TikTok commented on his “theater kid” energy in the film, and this is why many people either disliked or chose not to watch it. However, I enjoyed seeing a different side of Chalamet’s talent and how he captured the childlike wonder that is Willy Wonka.
Willy Wonka Then And Willy Wonka Now
One qualm I have with the film is that Wonka’s character seemed a little too different from the previous portrayals. Gene Wilder’s portrayal in 1971 shows how Wonka is mysterious and weirdly calm about children disappearing in his factory. Jonny Depp (2005) brought an even creepier countenance to the character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, clearly embracing that Wonka had a few screws loose.
Chalamet’s portrayal showed a certain level of weirdness, but in a more quirky and palatable way. This aspect of Wonka’s character in the past made the character a little more dynamic and interesting to me! When I think of Willy Wonka, I think of a conflicted and slightly frightening fellow, and this side of Wonka wasn’t fully explained in the movie. It took the best, most optimistic parts of Willy Wonka and personified that in Chalamet.
My friend, Emily Pineda, states, “I thought Timothée Chalamet was an … interesting version of Wonka.” It felt like a different character, one that catered to a wider family audience. However, the goal of the movie wasn’t to unsettle; it was an invitation into a whole new, wholesome world of song and magic!
Final Thoughts
After watching the film with my mom, I had a conversation with her about Chalamet’s performance. She voiced that she now wonders how Chalamet is going to look back at this movie later in his career. In response, I simply stated that he must have had fun filming the movie.
Not every role has to be serious and not every box-office movie has to be Oscar material. If anything, Willy Wonka has always encouraged the world to look at things a little differently and imagine the possibilities when you give in to a bit of fun. I would encourage you to see this movie with your friends, family, or any of the people you love. After all, “It’s not the chocolate that matters; it’s the people you share it with.”