- "Wonka," starring Timothée Chalamet, hits theaters on Friday.
- The movie follows the rise of Willy Wonka as he tries to open his famous chocolate store.
Warner Bros.' "Wonka" movie starring Timothée Chalamet as the burgeoning chocolatier with lofty dreams of opening a candy store hits theaters on Friday.
It's not a slam dunk, but like director Paul King's previous hit "Paddington," "Wonka" is a heartwarming musical spectacle filled with magical moments.
If you're wondering if "Wonka" is appropriate for small children, here's what you should know before heading to theaters.
What is Wonka rated?
"Wonka" is rated PG for "some violence, mild language, and thematic elements."
'Wonka' is a musical
Though the trailers don't give that impression, "Wonka" contains original songs written by The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon and scored by composer Joby Talbot. If you have kids who are into singing and dancing, "Wonka" has a lot of both.
They're mostly charming, upbeat numbers, including a new rendition of "Pure Imagination" from Chalamet, a sweet duet "For a Moment," and "A World of Your Own," which has been submitted for best original song consideration at the 2024 Oscars.
Are there any scary scenes in 'Wonka'?
No.
Unlike the trippy and terrifying boat scene in 1971's "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," there isn't anything that may keep kids up at night.
Is there anything inappropriate in 'Wonka'?
Not really.
There's some bottom-of-the-barrel humor. For instance, there's a fart joke at the expense of Hugh Grant's Oompa Loompa. When he bends over doing his Oompa Loompa performance, a cloud whiffs out of his behind to open into a flashback.
How long is Wonka?
The runtime for "Wonka" is just under two hours at an hour and 56 minutes.
The purpose of 'Wonka' is to fill viewers with joy
In the movie's press notes, both Chalamet and King emphasized how "Wonka" was crafted to inspire viewers and brighten spirits.
"When I think about the main theme of this movie, when I think about its raison d'etre—it is to bring joy into the world," Chalamet said. "It's to encourage dreaming; to encourage the dreamers to continue dreaming; to encourage declaring yourself as you are, who you are, without question."
He added: "It's to declare that to share in kindness and enthusiasm is to paint a way forward, not only for yourself, but for those around you. It's about community, and it's about community surviving in spaces of erosion. It's about light and love."
The film's message about chasing your dreams and making them come true is definitely appropriate for kids of any age.
You can read our review of the movie here. "Wonka" hits theaters on Friday.