I think it is a bad movie and I am actively discouraging people to go and see it in the theaters. If you want to see it, wait till it is on a streaming service.
The songs are not very good and can be scrapped without a problem, only one sort of moves the plot forward. It stops the action.
It doesn't really work as a prequel to the Gene Wilder movie, so no need to stick to those esthetics.
The entire movie could be more interesting if the kartel made sense. How much more interesting would it be if the kartel said to Wonka "You make amazing chocolate, let's work together and make even more money". And him then discovering there is more to chocolate than making money.
You would think it is about Wonka becoming a chocolatier, but he is already one from the start of the movie. That would make a more interesting prequel, I think.
Putting someone in a fatsuit to make jokes about being fat? Yeah... we shouldn't do that anymore.
Everything in the washing company, too much Oliver Twist / Annie (Jim Carter in very cringy scenes). The opening is very Sweeney Todd and the whole book switch... The Producers. So, no points for originality.
Totally get that Hugh Grant is not afraid to admit he only did it for the money, because it is a badly written part, only to move forward the plot. Deus ex machina and not very subtle. The best reason to take this part is for the money. Either give the oompa loompas a good backstory, or leave them out.
If you love the Gene Wilder movie and want to keep this image of Wonka: do not go see it. Timothy Chalemet does a good job with what he was given, but in my mind, he's not Wonka.
