It’s disappointing that this film doesn't quite live up to expectations, despite its considerable promise. The concept for the prequel feels true to Roald Dahl's characteristic humor and cleverness. Timothée Chalamet delivers an outstanding performance, and the supporting actors—Keegan Michael Key, Patterson Joseph, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, and Jim Carter—are all excellent in their roles. However, the film is let down by a casting choice. The casting director, Nina Gold, appears to have been searching for fresh faces and cast Calah Lane as Noodle, who shares scenes with Timothée Chalamet. While the character of Noodle is well-conceived, Lane’s performance is so poor that it undermines what could have been a truly remarkable prequel to Dahl's original work. Her delivery lacks any feeling, and she doesn't seem to engage with the other actors. This makes the writing feel empty, and it quickly becomes difficult to connect with Noodle or care about her fate. The performance is very distracting for anyone hoping to become invested in the story or the other characters. The film’s momentum falters significantly because Noodle’s well-being is essential to the narrative's progress. Responsibility for this misstep must initially fall on Nina Gold. Her previous work on projects such as *Bad Sisters*, *Game of Thrones*, and *The Crown* has been impressive, but her casting choices here don't align with that track record. The film’s shortcomings also reflect poorly on Director Paul King, who bears responsibility for the decision to cast Calah Lane in this role and subject audiences to such a subpar performance—a blow to Roald Dahl's legacy as a storyteller and humorist.

Source on TMDB