You needn’t worry about taking away a bit of your childhood with this film. It’s a different kind of Charlie – the original film is a completely separate entity, and is easy to put out of mind whilst falling under the spell of Johnny Depp and co.  Depp’s snarky, wonderful Wonka has been saddled with comparisons to uber-creep Michael Jackson. Don’t believe the hype. His effete, asexual Wonka hates kids; after all, he’s giving his factory to the kid who’s “least rotten.” My kind of thinking. 

The film does remain fairly true to the book. The greedy Indian Prince Pondicherry’s chocolate palace is given screen time, as is the jungle hunt for Oompa Loompas. Mashed caterpillars have never looked so vile. 

Speaking of Oompa Loompas, the entire tribe is played by one man, the charming Deep Roy. The Oompa Loompa songs incorporate different style of music, and had me in stitches. 

Highmore’s Charlie is a big, watery eyed sweetie. I, like Wonka, am not a fan of kids, but he’s so utterly cute, he’s impossible not to love. Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) is played to perfection – from the tales of Wonka’s history to his ride in the Great Glass Elevator, you know this man is a devoted, loving grandfather.

The other kids are right little pains in the arse: Augustus Gloop is indeed a fat little pig, Veruca Salt is a whiny little bitch (love the way she says ‘squirrel’!), Violet Beauregard is a competitive Southern girl (the matching tracksuits she and her mother wear are fantastic) and little Mike Teavee is now a videogame addict. Modernisations all around, but they work wonderfully.

A return to Wonka is a perfect opportunity to regain a bit of one’s childhood. I delighted myself in the wonders onscreen, and I, too, want an Oompa Loompa!

(5/5)

Release Date: 21 November 2005

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory