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Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Reviewed by
Rich Drees
I first
encountered candy-maker Willy Wonka and his imagination-defying
chocolate factory growing up outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I
was about seven years old and the 1971 film Willy Wonka And The
Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder was showing on TV.
Needless to say, the sight of several children visiting a candy
factory only to get sucked into pipes or to blow up like purple
balloons left quite the impression on my young mind- an impression
which would manifest itself a few weeks later in my rather horrified
reaction to my parents suggestion of a trip to the nearby Hershey
Chocolate World for me and my brothers.
So I can report that when an automated musical puppet display
welcoming the five lucky Golden Ticket winners to the mysterious
Wonka Chocolate Factory in the new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s
children’s novel Charlie And The Chocolate Factory burst into
flames, I laughed long and hard, perhaps exorcising some leftover
childhood trauma. And this new version of Dahl’s classic may just
induce a little trauma of its own, as it rejoices gleefully in its
own demented sensibilities. While perhaps a tad dark for the
youngest of audience members, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
is a twisted treat, a warped ride through Dahl’s tale as filtered
through director Tim Burton’s fevered imagination. At its core,
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a story that celebrates
childhood’s innocence and imagination. Adults are quick to reject
things like chocolate waterfalls and the existence of LoompaLand,
which Charlie readily accepts on faith. Therefore, the story is a
perfect vehicle to allow Burton to let loose his visual
sensibilities, with influences like 1960s op art to German
expressionism in evident display. Frequent Burton collaborator Danny
Elfman provides unique musical arrangements for the individual Oompa
Loompa songs - ranging from the Bollywood bombast to a 60s “Up With
People” feel - while retaining Dahl’s original lyrics.
Over his career, Depp has made a habit out of picking unusual roles
and his Willy Wonka is no exception. Depp seems to have approached
his characterization from a different direction than Gene Wilder did
for the 1971 adaptation of the book. Here, Wonka is more child-like
in broader ways. He is more impulsive and less in control of his
emotions, quick to anger when someone says something he doesn’t
like. This fits in well with the back-story that the script has
created for the character. Unfortunately, the film grinds to a halt
at the end, when it comes time to resolve the plotline that springs
out of this back-story.
Depp is reunited here with his Finding Neverland (2004)
costar Freddie Highmore, who plays the kind-hearted Charlie Bucket.
Highmore plays the selfless young Charlie with a sincerity that
easily carries the first portion of the movie. Unfortunately, once
Charlie and his Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) arrive for the tour of
Wonka’s factory, they move into the background as Depp’s Wonka takes
over the film. |
