The Classics Corner: "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 10:03PM | By Rachel Thuro 
Release year: 1971
The players: Director: Mel Stuart, Writers: Roald Dahl, Cast: Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson, Julie Dawn Cole, Denise Nickerson
The plot: Five lucky children win an opportunity to explore the mysterious chocolate factory of world famous chocolatier, Willy Wonka.
Modern thoughts on a classic movie: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” has little to offer an older, modern viewer. It has probably survived this long because of the fondness many hold thanks to childhood memories, but to an unsuspecting adult, it’s barely a few steps away from torture.
The story alone is one to make the modern viewer groan in disbelief, as the film beats the lesson of being good children into the unwilling soul of its audience with a sledgehammer. Obviously Charlie is a good little boy who doesn't eat too much, chew gum, watch television, or get everything he wants, so he wins the grand prize at the end of the film.
Of course Charlie is unable to be a bad little boy under the aforementioned circumstances because his family is dirt poor, and therefore not offered the opportunity to misbehave. The story merely glosses over that part. In the end, the film gives its younger audience the false hope that the nice guy always wins and evil-doers get their just desserts, which simply isn’t true in the real, grown-up world.
Aside from the ridiculous story, the film also attacks the viewer’s senses with boring musical numbers (except the Oompa-Loompa song), heinous acting (except Gene Wilder) and an uninspired setting (no exceptions). The useless songs drone on for the first half of the film, until sweet release comes and the tour begins. The rest of the film is filled with the more upbeat variations on the Oompa Loompa song.
As for the acting, the kids, along with their parental counterparts, are painful to watch and listen to: marionettes could’ve handled the parts better. Gene Wilder, in the titular role, is the film’s only saving grace. And for a movie about imagination and endless possibilities, the chocolate factory’s indoor design was little more than the junk in someone’s garage covered in semi-bright colors. Being filmed in 1971 is no excuse for lack of inspiration.
The final word: If this was a beloved childhood favorite, then the nostalgia would probably live on in the modern viewer’s heart upon each screening, camouflaging the many disadvantages. If not, then it’s merely an obnoxious morality tale that feels outdated, and unwelcomed, at every turn.
Article by Rachel Thuro
Reader Comments (6)
How wrong you are on every level.
The most wrong and insulting review I have ever read. This girl most be stupid, I went to a screening last night and it was a huge success with adults and children. The movie has good morals and a sarcastic wit that is good for any age. This review was obviously written by a out of touch hipster trying to be cool and take down a classic movie but ended up just making himself look like an idiot devoid of any intelligence.
So when someone doesn't agree with your views, it automatically makes them "stupid"? Sounds like you're the close-minded idiot.
Author is clueless twit. Sure she'll be celebrating Obama's election along with all the other like minded twits.
To be honest, I'm puzzled by the review. I just finished watching the movie, and her review misses the essential point of the movie. Charlie isn't, per her words, a "a good little boy who doesn't eat too much, chew gum, watch television, or get everything he wants." As Willie Wonka points out with venom, he broke the rules, just as every other child did.
Where Charlie differs is in his deep knowledge of right and wrong despite intense provocation from Willie Wonka and his grandfather's pressure to give the gobstopper to Slugworth. The moral is not that the perfect kid gets the prize. It's not that economic deprivation keep you away from trouble. It's that redemption is possible, even after failure, after mistakes, after breaking the rules. And THAT is a message that has resonated throughout the ages.
And the rest of the review just comes off as sour grapes. Criticising the acting, set design, and musical numbers just seems to be a search for something to pin her rage on. The children act like -- wait for it -- children. An admitted puzzle in this day of 8 year old actors who pontificate on Sartre. Clearly the movie didn't speak to her...but it does to us.
CAN-IT NIT!