Willy Wonka – chock-full of ideas and determined to change the world one delectable bite at a time – is proof that the best things in life begin with a dream, and if you’re lucky enough to meet Willy Wonka, anything is possible.
Timothée Chalamet
Willy Wonka
Calah Lane
Noodle
Keegan-Michael Key
Chief of Police
Hugh Grant
Oompa Loompa
Paterson Joseph
Arthur Slugworth
Olivia Colman
Mrs. Scrubbit
Tom Davis
Bleacher
Jim Carter
Abacus Crunch
Rowan Atkinson
Father Julius
Matt Lucas
Prodnose
Mathew Baynton
Ficklegruber
Natasha Rothwell
Piper Benz
Rakhee Thakrar
Lottie Bell
Rich Fulcher
Larry Chucklesworth
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Officer Affable
Simon Farnaby
Basil, Zoo Security Guard
Ellie White
Gwennie, Mistress of the Keys
Sally Hawkins
Willy's Mother
Colin O'Brien
Young Willy Wonka
Freya Parker
Miss Bon Bon
Murray McArthur
Ship Captain
Charlotte Ritchie
Barbara
Phil Wang
Colin
Rufus Jones
Jenkins
Isy Suttie
Fruit & Veg Vendor
Ian Bartholomew
Sceptical Old Man
Sophie Winkleman
The Countess
Justin Edwards
Green Skinned Customer
Michael Abubakar
Orange Haired Customer
Tim FitzHigham
Sinister Ship’s Captain
Jane Bertish
Baroness Von Schmeichelhammer
Tracy Ifeachor
Dorothy Smith
Dominic Coleman
Donovan
Muzz Khan
Oompa Loompa Guard 1
Ben Howard
Oompa Loompa Guard 2
Alison Pargeter
Wendy Chucklesworth
Bleu Woodward
Waitress
Paul G. Raymond
Map Seller
Lola Shepelev
Moustachided Little Girl
Marina Bye
Green-Bearded Customer
Robyn Rose
Tram Lady 1
Millie O'Donnell
Tram Lady 2
Susie Fairfax
Abacus Crunch's Wife
Macie Blake
Abacus Crunch's Granddaughter (4 Years Old)
Ellie Blake
Abacus Crunch's Granddaughter (8 Years Old)
Matilda Tucker
Young Mother
Bertie Caplan
Shoeshine Boy
Gustave Die
Ship's Engineer
Poppy Townsend White
School Girl (uncredited)
Luan Gallagher
Dancer (Uncredited)
Pierre Bergman
Mourner (uncredited)
Grant Crookes
Mourner (uncredited)
Rene Costa
Barber (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay, Story
Paul King
Characters
Roald Dahl
Screenplay
Simon Farnaby
December 11, 2023
7
The opening bars of "Pure Imagination" give us a clue as to what's coming next, and for the most part it's a strong testament to the engaging and charismatic man playing the eponymous chocolatier. He arrives is a town controlled by a chocolate cartel that is determined to use any means possible to ensure he can't fulfil his dream. That dream? Well ever since he was a child, he has wanted to make chocolate as well as his mother (Sally Hawkins). To do that, though, he needs a shop - and without a silver sovereign to his name that's not going to happen. It's winter, so his first order of business is somewhere to sleep. Luckily (?!?) "Bleacher" (Tom Davis) finds him on a cold bench and takes him to the welcoming arms of "Mrs. Scrubbit" (Olivia Colman) who offers him a bed for the night, though pretty soon he realises it's more of a bed in return for a life of indentured laundry servitude. Still, he's ingenious and he doesn't lose sight of his goal, so together with his fellow inmate "Noodle" (Calah Lane) and book-keeper "Abacus Crunch" (Jim Carter) they concoct a plan to addict the population to the young man's sweets whilst bringing down the evil trio of truffle terrorisers and ensuring "Scrubbit" and "Bleacher' get their comeuppance too!. Meantime "Wonka" has other problem. Someone is pinching his product! An elaborate trap and a large jar introduce us to a tiny "Oompa-Loompa" (Hugh Grant) who looks like he's spent way too long on the sun-bed. With his own debt to pay, the two agree an alliance that - well we all know what happens to that. It's a little over-choreographed, I think, and the original songs are not especially memorable, but it doesn't hang about and there's no doubting that Chalamet is enjoying himself, and that's a little bit contagious and we head to a denouement that takes fondue to a ridiculous level... It features a strong and well matched ensemble cast and though maybe a little too long, I did enjoy it.