Film Review – Wonka (2023)

Roald Dahl’s 1964 book, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” originally inspired a 1971 big screen adaptation starring Gene Wilder as a demented chocolatier who spends an afternoon teaching bratty kids lessons while on a tour of his massive factory. The picture wasn’t a hit when it was originally released, but time turned it into a classic, and Tim Burton took a shot at realizing Dahl’s world in a 2005 feature, which was an immediate smash. There’s still plenty of life left in the brand name, and co-writer/director Paul King (“Paddington” and its sequel) looks to return to a world of pure imagination with “Wonka,” which is a prequel story, eschewing Dahl’s creative leadership to set things up for a fresh round of character shenanigans and strange villainy. King goes soft and sweet with the endeavor, also keeping “Wonka” a musical, looking to give the effort a Broadway-style lift as the writing examines the early days of the master confectioner and his struggles against those who fear his greatness. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com