Love Them Both, for Different Reasons!

Rating: 8/10 (11 August 2005)

This latest adaptation of the children's classic CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY may suffer in the shadow of the 1971 original film starring Gene Wilder, but the new version of CHARLIE is full of its own brand of chocolaty goodness. Fans of the Roald Dahl novel will be pleased to learn that the larger portions of the film follow the book more closely than the Gene Wilder version, with occasional modern-day updates (such as TV addict Mike Teevee's portrayal as a video-game junkie).
The child-cast play their bratty characters to the hilt, coupled with wonderful reactions from their equally loathsome parents, while Charlie and his poor-but-loving family are unfailingly heartwarming and honest. Johnny Depp plays a slightly squicky, hands-offish Wonka (think germ phobia, but for children) that is miles away from Wilder's devilish candy-maker. While Depp's Wonka may be off-putting in his first few scenes, by the end of the film he is not only enjoyable, but almost lovable. Add to this scene-stealing performances by Deep Roy (who plays a whole factory of Oompa-Loompas voiced by composer Danny Elfman) and Christopher Lee, and you have a wickedly wonderful film--and this from someone who went into the theatre ready to defend to the death the 1971 version!
If you loved the Gene Wilder original, find a place in your heart for the very different charms of CHARLIE.