“Wonka”: amazing prequel, exceeds expectations

If you’re a fan of either movie adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” then you sure won’t want to miss this amazing backstory. What appears to be an obvious cash-in on the surface turns out to be a passionate, heartfelt, and intriguing prequel with some good twists that I wouldn’t dare spoil for those who haven’t seen it. 

The story is about the various trials Wonka faces to achieve his dream of selling great-tasting chocolate to the world, though, to say what they are would be major spoilers. Along the way, Wonka befriends a little girl named Noodle who helps him to overcome the obstacles he faces. 

One particular twist at the very end is admittedly pretty predictable, and you’ll know it when you see it. Think of “Kung Fu Panda” as a hint, which is similar to the big twist near the end there. 

Arthur Slugworth is a major villain in the story, and he has a pretty interesting backstory. There is also an obvious villain who you’ll also know when a certain character makes an ominous remark (who you’d never tell was a villain before the remark) but aside from that, these twists caught me by surprise. 

The songs are awesome and have a Broadway feel, similar to “The Greatest Showman.” They also drive the story and don’t feel like filler in any way. These are great songs, ranging from incredibly catchy to magically wondrous. There’s also a great backstory to the Oompa Loompas. 

The colors are great, too, making this film look as visually appealing as an animated film. In a time when sequels and remakes plague Hollywood, this is a breath of fresh air. It’s not just a soulless cash-in as it would ostensibly appear on the surface.

The story is intriguing with plenty of (mostly) great twists that I didn’t see coming, a legitimate investment where I wanted to see how everything would play out, great villains, great music, and a great heart. There’s just a sense of specialness to it that could easily be compared to seeing “Tangled” in 2010. 

I loved it, and the issues, if any, are nitpicks. Give this one a go if you’re tired of sequels and remakes because it indeed stands out from the crowd.