Entertainment has never been sweeter than it is in this summer’s delicious hit, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Directed by Tim Burton, this film is a mixture of his dark sense of theatrics and the lovable classic from the 70s.
Burton is best-known for his direction in movies such as “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Edward Scissorhands.”
But with “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Burton has outdone his previous endeavors and created a fun, yet slightly odd family treat.
The story begins much like the older version with Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) and his family providing the background story behind Willy Wonka’s (Johnny Depp) chocolate factory. Most of the details come from Grandpa Joe who used to be employed at the factory.
Once Willy Wonka sends out five golden tickets wrapped in his candy bars to tour his factory for one day, the search is on for poor little Charlie.
Day after day Charlie watches the news and sees the four other children from around the globe find their golden tickets.
But finally and even though it’s expected, Charlie finds his own ticket.
And after some family discussion, he and Grandpa Joe are off to the factory.
The ticket-holding children really add spunk to the film with their rotten behaviors, unlike the last Wonka venture. Augustus Gloop eats constantly. Violet Beauregarde is a confident, competitive gum-chewing record holder. Veruca Salt is beyond spoiled, thanks to her father. And then there is Mike Teavee, who is violent due to his obsession with television. Naturally, Charlie is the only normal and grateful child there.
Burton’s sense of sarcasm comes alive through Mike and Violet and the appearances of the famous Oompa Loompas.
The Oompa Loompas have shed their green and orange hues for a more normal look, yet they still love to sing and dance. However, all of the Oompa Loompas are played by the same man (Deep Roy) and it becomes a little tiresome to see him again and again. The orange and green little guys have won this battle.
As the tour continues mysterious things happen to the children, leaving Charlie as the winner of the grand prize. But Charlie, having a heart of gold, has problems accepting his grand prize.
In the end things get resolved and the ending is surprisingly satisfying.
It still may be a toss up whether Gene Wilder or Johnny Depp is the better Wonka. While Wilder enjoyed having the kids in his factory, Depp was brisk and cold to them, not even asking their names.
Nonetheless, it is still an award-worthy performance by Depp as the lanky, kooky Wonka.
Unlike the Wonka characters, there is no indecisiveness about the better Charlie character. Hands down it’s Depp’s “Finding Neverland” co-star, Highmore.
He played an excellent heart-tugging Charlie with big, wide smiles, whereas the last Charlie acted too sad too often and appeared to be a cry-baby.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” gained the top spot at the box office last weekend by pulling in more than $60,000,000.
