There’s no doubt that the fictional story “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl is a monumental piece of literature. Two movies have been made on the story, but recently, Hollywood has introduced a prequel to the beloved tale, Wonka.

As soon as the movie begins, you are transported to your childhood as it plays “Pure Imagination” from the first movie. The entire film was an overall nostalgic experience with lots of nods to the original. 

The performances from the actors were delivered very energetically, especially from Wonka who was played by Timmotheé Chalamet. At some points, it was overpowering even, and could have been toned down.

The supporting characters could have had more depth and development. Other than Willy Wonka, we don’t know much about the characters and their pasts. 

The movie was overall very humorous and I found myself laughing at lots of the jokes. The music fit the vibe of the movie very well. It was silly and fun but also had undertones of serious topics such as the experience of being an orphan, corruption in big companies and in the law enforcement and even death. However, the balance of serious moments and humor was perfect.

The visuals and sets in Wonka were very colorful and detailed. The Oompa Loompa looked so realistic you could barely tell it was CGI. The other effects looked very realistic as well. 

I definitely recommend this movie if you want something a little more lighthearted or just want a taste of childhood again. So, if you decide to watch Wonka, prepare yourself for almost 2 hours of pure nostalgia.