Wonka surpasses initial reactions with exceptional Rotten Tomatoes score
Despite initial skepticism, prequel film Wonka surprises viewers with an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score, silencing critics and exceeding expectations
The new prequel, Wonka, featuring Timothée Chalamet, initially received mixed reactions from the public when its first trailer was released. However, it has since garnered an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score following the release of early reviews. It's no surprise that the announcement of a prequel to Willy Wonka's time in the chocolate factory immediately divided audiences.
The movie trailer for Wonka, featuring Chalamet and Olivia Colman, was initially criticized by potential fans for various perceived flaws in the all-out musical prequel. However, with the release of critic reviews, Wonka’s current Rotten Tomatoes score tells a much more positive story.
Wonka proves naysayers wrong with high Rotten Tomatoes score
After social media reactions were largely negative towards the initial trailer, Wonka has prompted an opinion u-turn, with its Rotten Tomatoes score currently sitting at 79%.
Despite the initial negative reception, Wonka has managed to exceed expectations and has garnered praise from audiences and social media users for surpassing the anticipation set by the original trailer.
In our review, we stated that Willy Wonka challenges us to hold two types of thought at once. The film does an exceptional job of turning the chocolatier's story into one of unfiltered joy, but it doesn't fully address stereotyping concerns and underhand humor. Willy Wonka is the ideal opportunity for kids who were traumatized by previous versions to repair, reheal, and carry forward the magic.
Courtney Howard from AV Club described the hyper-stylized portrait as sweet yet not overly sentimental, praising its pure imagination and audacious charm, whimsy, and poignancy.
Meanwhile, Hoai-Tran Bui at Inverse noted that in the world of Wonka, cynicism and detached irony are nonexistent, and the movie challenges viewers to resist being carried away by its candy-colored visuals and dazzling musical numbers.
Still, not all reviewers have found Wonka to be delightfully sweet, with a few expressing strong dislike for the film. Nicholas Barber of the BBC, for example, disagreed, saying, "Dahl's novel was filled with the author's frustration with the annoyances of modern life... [but] the film fails to capture the realness of the story. It is excessively zany and exaggerated, making it all seem too forced to truly care about."
Unfortunately, audience reviews are not yet available on Wonka's Rotten Tomatoes page. We will continue to update this page with the latest developments. Wonka will be in theaters on December 8 in the UK and on December 15 in the US. For more of Dexerto's TV and movie coverage, visit this page.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the upcoming Wonka prequel film. On the one hand, I am excited to see Timothée Chalamet take on the iconic role of Willy Wonka. I think he has the acting chops to pull it off, and I am curious to see his interpretation of the character. On the other hand, I am worried that the film will not live up to the original 1971 film, which is a classic. I am also concerned that the film will be too kid-friendly and will not have enough of the dark humor that made the original film so popular.
Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about the Wonka prequel film. I think it has the potential to be a great film, but I am also aware that it could be a disappointment. I will definitely be seeing it when it comes out, and I will be keeping my fingers crossed that it is a good film.
