Bob Mondello shares his thoughts on Timothee Chalamet’s rendition of a young Willy Wonka in the new prequel to the Roald Dahl film classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
And now, from the makers of “Paddington…”
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “WONKA”)
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka, singing) Come with me…
SHAPIRO: …And following in the footsteps of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp…
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “WONKA”)
CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka, singing) …And you’ll be…
SHAPIRO: …Timothee Chalamet becomes a chocolatier.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “WONKA”)
CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka, singing) …In a world of pure imagination.
SHAPIRO: It’s “Wonka,” a candy-colored prequel to “Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory.” Critic Bob Mondello says the filmmakers followed a time-honored recipe to cook up a family film that’s sweet but not too sweet.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: Willy’s hardly an innocent when we meet him.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “WONKA”)
CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka) I spent the past seven years traveling the world, perfecting my craft.
MONDELLO: He wants to start a chocolate shop…
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “WONKA”)
CHALAMET: (As Wonka) You see, I’m something of a magician, inventor and chocolate-maker. So quiet up and listen down. Nope – scratch that. Reverse it.
MONDELLO: …But he doesn’t know business.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “WONKA”)
JIM CARTER: (As Abacus Crunch) Many people have come here to sell chocolates. They’ve all been crushed by the chocolate cartel.
MONDELLO: The chocolate cartel – got to love a kid flick that offers lessons in monopoly capitalism – ones that require some quick thinking.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “WONKA”)
CALAH LANE: (As Noodle) What are we going to do, Willy?
CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka) Huh.
CALAH: (As Noodle) Huh?
CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka) Huh.
CALAH: (As Noodle) A double huh.
CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka) Do you have a pencil and paper?
CALAH: (As Noodle) Uh-huh.
CHALAMET: (As Willy Wonka) I got an idea.
MONDELLO: They…
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