Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

“Weird” – a word that is worn-out in Tim Burton’s retelling of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – is single-handedly the best adjective to use in describing this film. Then again, with Tim Burton in the director’s chair, the odd is expected.

With Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton conveys his typical dreariness and idiosyncrasies and uses his favorite faces in Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. In an attempt to appease Roald Dahl’s literary legacy, Burton has crafted a film that is more faithful to the text, yet more bleak and bitter than the fluffy original.

Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp), the world’s most infamous candy creator, is reopening his doors to give five lucky children a tour of his marvelous, yet mysterious, chocolate factory. Children can only gain entry to the factory by finding one of the five golden tickets wrapped inside Wonka’s many-flavored chocolate bars.

After chocoholic Augustus Gloop (Philip Wiegratz), video-game nut Mike Teavee (Jordon Fry), spoiled rotten daughter Veruca Salt (Julia Winter), and gum-chewing champion Violet Beauregarde (Annasophia Robb) all find golden tickets, the final ticket finds its way into the hands of the near-penniless Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore). Upon entering the factory, the five children and their family-member escorts are reminded that only one of the five will win something “beyond their wildest imagination.”

Freddie Highmore, whom Depp recommended to Burton based on his work in Finding Neverland, is the perfect choice to play the title character. His Charlie calls for far more praise than Peter Ostrum’s young Bucket. Highmore brings a sense of innocence and depth to the lead role. However, it is odd that the 1971 musical is named after Willy and the new version is named after Charlie (as the book is) – yet Willy still steals the show.

Playing Willy Wonka, Johnny Depp further shows off his versatility; however, his character does possess the capacity to creep out the faint of heart. While some have compared his Wonka to Wacko Jacko, this connection is moot. Although, pedophilic undertones could be drawn when Wonka explains, “Everything in this room is edible, even me.”

Article Author: Brandon Valentine

Brandon Valentine is a film critic from Hershey, PA. Aside from possessing the last name “Valentine” and living in “the Sweetest Place on Earth,” Brandon was also born on Valentine’s Day. That’s right, a Valentine born on Valentine’s Day. …

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