“Every good thing in this world started with a dream, so hold on to yours.” Willy Wonka’s unwavering determination to achieve his goal in the movie is truly inspiring. He pursued his dreams no matter how hard the journey was, and he refused to give up on them. His unwavering commitment is a reminder of the power of dedication and hard work. Willy Wonka’s story is a great example of how to achieve success in anything you set your mind to.

Released on Dec. 15, “Wonka” is a musical fantasy movie that delves into the early life of Willy Wonka, one of the most beloved fictional characters of all time. The film is directed by filmmaker Paul King, who is best known for his work on the “Paddington” movie franchise. “Wonka” takes the audience back in time to Willy Wonka’s early days as a chocolatier and tells his origin story. The movie is a delightful treat for fans of the novel and movies alike, as it explores the magical and whimsical world of Willy Wonka. With Paul King at the helm and a talented cast and crew on board, “Wonka” is a cinematic experience like no other.

Timothée Chalamet, who plays Willy Wonka, did a fantastic job reviving the characters. The story begins with Willy Wonka’s journey to Europe in pursuit of opening his chocolate shop. His dream is to bring his unique and innovative flavors to a wider audience, but he soon realizes that the expenses of setting up the business are greater than he anticipated. With limited savings, he finds himself at the mercy of Mrs. Scrubitt’s boarding house. But unfortunately, he is supposed to pay off a hefty debt. Because of the debt, Wonka is seized and forced to work at a launderette with other inmates: Abacus Crunch, Piper Benz, Larry Chucklesworth, Lottie Bell, and Noodle. Now Wonka’s only goal was to open his dream chocolate store but Slugworth and the chief of police made it harder for Wonka to achieve his dreams. However, Wonka isn’t a character to give up that easily.  “It’s an unbreakable spirit that never takes no for an answer.” Chalamet said about his character during one of the interviews for AMC theaters. 

In addition to Chalamet’s portrayal, fans were thrilled with the performance of the lead and supporting cast in “Wonka.” Foremost among those are Hugh Grant, playing Oompa-Loompa, Calah Lane, playing Noodle, Sally Hawkins, playing Willy’s Mother, and many other notable names. All in all, the dedication and hard work of the cast and crew were instrumental in creating a magical and memorable show for audiences of all ages to enjoy.

Junior Vidhi Jariwala considers “Wonka” to be her favorite film. “This movie has the best creativity and brilliant storylines,” Jariwala said. “It is truly a part of musicals, film, and books. I enjoyed watching the Wonka movie. I really recommend this movie to other people.”

For sophomore Adya Jha, “Wonka” is not only a comedy film, but it also holds a deep message. “I was inspired by its pure imagination,” Jha said. “It has great relationships like family, friendship, and a great meaning of power of dreams and passion. It is suitable for both young and old people. This movie was worth watching. I love [it] because of some beautiful elements such as [the] magical scenes and  musical creativity.” 

“Wonka” is available on HBO Max and in theaters.