Wonka (2023): Sweet but a Little Saccharine?

Okay, so I finally saw Wonka (2023), and I have thoughts! As a HUGE Roald Dahl fan (I've read every book, multiple times, naturally), I was both excited and nervous. Timothée Chalamet is undeniably charming, and he definitely captured some of the whimsy of Wonka... but something felt a little…off? It felt almost too polished, too…nice? Like, where's the edge? The slightly unsettling darkness that Dahl is known for? The musical numbers were fun, I'll give it that! 'Scrub Scrub' with the Umpa Loompas was a highlight, and Hugh Grant was PERFECTION. Seriously, casting genius there. But some of the other songs felt a little...forgettable? And while I apreciate the origin story angle, did we need an explanation for everything? Sometimes the mystery is part of the magic, right? I did really like the dynamic between Wonka and Noodle (Calah Lane). Their relationship felt genuine and gave the movie some heart. And the visuals were stunning! The chocolate river scene felt appropriately epic. Overall, it was an enjoyable watch, especially for the holidays. Definately a fun movie just going in for a light mood and nothing more, I also just loved the way it looked. But as far as adaptations go, I'm not sure it's going to stick with me like the Gene Wilder version, or even the Johnny Depp version (love it or hate it, it DEFINITELY had its own…thing going on). What did everyone else think? Did it hit the sweet spot for you, or was it just too much sweetness and not enough substance?