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Wonka is a sweet, thoroughly entertaining film, propelled by imagination and an infectious sense of fun.

I enjoyed Timothée Chalamet‘s take on Wonka. He’s wide-eyed, hopeful and considerably different from Gene Wilder’s wonderfully eccentric creation. That distinction may not work for everyone, but I was happy to take this version of the character on its own terms.

There’s a fun ensemble here, clearly relishing the opportunity to go campy and over the top. Hugh Grant is amusing as an Oompa-Loompa, although the CG creation itself is pretty awkward and I never quite got used to it. Olivia Colman is great as one of the film’s villains, and the baddies in general are a lot of fun, given a surprising amount to do and plenty of opportunities to ham it up.

The musical numbers are enjoyable, with a couple of catchy tunes in the mix. That said, I can’t say there was anything that had me thinking, “I’m going straight to Spotify to listen to that again and again.” They’re fun in the moment, but perhaps not particularly memorable once the credits roll.

The film also feels just a little too long for what it is. A few reveals take their time arriving, and there were stretches where I found myself waiting for things to move along. It’s ultimately a minor gripe, though, particularly when there’s so much charm carrying the film forward.

Wonka is a warm, imaginative family film with a little bit of edge, a nice amount of heart and enough personality to make this return to the chocolate factory worthwhile.