“You’ve never had chocolate like this,” sings Willy Wonka in an early sequence of director Paul King’s newest feature from Warner Bros. Pictures.

And you’ve never seen “Wonka” like this, either, as King brings an entirely new story to life with the help of acclaimed actor Timothée Chalamet. The Academy Award nominee carries a humor and lightness into the title role that is sure to make him as beloved by young audiences as he already is among elite members of the entertainment industry.

Based on the character first introduced to readers in Road Dahl’s 1964 children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” King rewinds to a young Wonka’s time as an ambitious and penniless chocolatier embarking on an adventure in a new city. When he is swindled by washhouse miser Mrs. Scrubbitt (a proper Dahl villain played by the dynamic Olivia Colman), Wonka and his comrades come together to try to escape her clutches and achieve his dream of making affordable chocolate for the masses.

The excellent cast (including Keegan Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant and Jim Carter) is bolstered by a jaunty soundtrack and whimsical production design, but the joy of “Wonka” lies in its creative ambition and fast pace. King and co-writer Simon Farnaby never linger too long on a single song or goofy gag. “Wonka” moves merrily along, like a leisurely ride on a chocolate river, with the help of wayward giraffes and magic balloons creating an overall feeling of whimsy befitting a theme park attraction.

Kids need not have visited the wonderful world of Gene Wilder’s 1971 portrayal in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” to appreciate this new film, though the opening strains of “Pure Imagination” might bring tears to the eyes of the kids-at-heart who remember it well. King’s origin story avoids sugary-sweet cliches or callbacks, while still paying subtle and respectful tribute to the original film. (This version is consistently more fun than the darker take on “Charlie” proffered by Tim Burton in 2005). It’s especially joyous to watch Wonka interact with newfound friend Noodle (Calah Lane), an orphan in search of some hope. This friendship drives the story forward and foreshadows the eventual glimmer of goodness Wonka sees in a poor boy named Charlie Bucket. 

“Wonka” works because it dares to ask a question worth answering: how did Willy become the famous factory owner? Like “Wicked” or “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” to varying degrees of success, this film finds a new entrance to an old building.

It helps that Chalamet looks like he was drawn straight out of a children’s book, and he leans into a goofy physical comedy he’s never shared before on screen – unless you count delightful press tour mishaps (which the internet does). Chalamet fully embraces the silliness this story requires, and his animated affability makes his “Wonka” special while staying true to the spirit of the whacky character. His inventiveness comes in handy throughout the film’s 116-minute run time, as he has to repeatedly find his way out of jams to keep his dreams alive. Wonka always seems to find a way out, mirroring Chalamet’s relationship with his material: he consistently finds opportunities to make a film as interesting and enjoyable for the viewer as the experience of making it seems to be for him as an artist. King sets the tone and Chalamet carries it, lifting the audience up the way he often does in his charismatic performances.

The versatile actor brings some serious dimension to his character when needed, but the swiftly-paced “Wonka” is otherwise pure fun. It’s not concerned with being anything else, and like a kid with a candy bar, we shouldn’t be either. Like Noodle sings in one of the more heart-swelling numbers in the musical, the adults at the cinema can “forget to be sad” about the state of the world for a few hours. There are no real vegetables hidden in this dessert, aside from the well-executed theme of being a grown-up holding on to a dream.

Four out of five people who watch this movie might not see the beauty in it, rejecting its silliness and drawing comparisons to its beloved source material. But for the Charlie Buckets of the world, “Wonka” is this year’s golden ticket.

“Wonka” opens in theaters Dec. 15. Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.