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movie, Wonka

"Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy."

That's what candy-maker Willy Wonka told one of the kids visiting his factory in 2005's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Inspired by Roald Dahl's Wonka books but not beholden to them, filmmaker Paul King's prequel "Wonka" illustrates that maxim in a breezy two-hour musical comedy. The film hopes to make the audience shed a sentimental tear or two, but is mainly content to amuse, delight, and inspire cheers when the bad guys are defeated. The performances, costumes, songs and choreography are probably better than they needed to be to make a hit of this project, which is, as executives like to put it, a pre-sold property (who doesn't know and love Willy Wonka?).

It's all formulaic, for sure—proudly so, with self-referential jokes and outrageous puns so numerous that they would be insufferable if they weren't charming. King, cowriter Simon Farnaby and their collaborators get the tone just right from the very beginning and never lose control of it, or the pacing for that matter, and although there are satirical or metaphorical touches that aren't too hard to see if you're looking for them, they're presented with a throwaway sensibility, often as sight gags, so as not to salt the candy to the point where it drowns out the sweetness.

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https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wonka-film-review-2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNh9bTjXWg

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