My first response to the first song in Wonka was, wow, this is a really bad song. Was it the worst song in the movie? Not necessarily. But it was certainly not a song you should start a musical with.
The music is in service of the story of a young chocolate maker who comes to the big city and has various travails that he faces with equanimity and magic. He quickly acquires some powerful enemies and powerless friends and a bunch of not-especially interesting stuff happens.
While I single out the songs, the movie is also notable for the weakness of its world building. You have this town where everyone is paid in chocolate and there's much evilness but none of it holds together.
I always find Timothée Chalamet irritating, and here is no exception. The rest of the cast tries their best, and their best is pretty good, but the only genuinely fun performance is by Hugh Grant, who makes a terrific snarky Oompa Loompa.
Visually the movie is colorful and fun, and there are two good songs - both listed from the Gene Wilder Wonka - and one surprisingly decent number for Wonka's shop opening.
The story is full of holes and coincidences, but this is very much a kids movie and I guess if you're a kid you can overlook a lot. But if you're an adult I wouldn't recommend this.
The music is in service of the story of a young chocolate maker who comes to the big city and has various travails that he faces with equanimity and magic. He quickly acquires some powerful enemies and powerless friends and a bunch of not-especially interesting stuff happens.
While I single out the songs, the movie is also notable for the weakness of its world building. You have this town where everyone is paid in chocolate and there's much evilness but none of it holds together.
I always find Timothée Chalamet irritating, and here is no exception. The rest of the cast tries their best, and their best is pretty good, but the only genuinely fun performance is by Hugh Grant, who makes a terrific snarky Oompa Loompa.
Visually the movie is colorful and fun, and there are two good songs - both listed from the Gene Wilder Wonka - and one surprisingly decent number for Wonka's shop opening.
The story is full of holes and coincidences, but this is very much a kids movie and I guess if you're a kid you can overlook a lot. But if you're an adult I wouldn't recommend this.