Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Burton and Depp reunite once more for this entertaining family film about Charlie and his favourite chocolate factory taken from the warmly popular bestseller by Roald Dahl. It’s the story about a factory owner Willy Wonka (played by Depp) who reluctantly lets five children into his mysterious chocolate world as the winners of a competition.

Charlie Bucket (Highmore) and the wonderfully named Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt, Mike Teavee and Augustus Gloop are the lucky winners who get to pick their way through a factory of fantastically tasty proportions, made up of waterfalls of chocolate and mushrooms that taste of marshmallow.

The film itself is both sweet and dark and also engaging, in keeping with Burton’s previous films really, giving an opportunity for fans of all ages to appreciate his unique vision. Yet again though, it’s Depp who provides the magic much as he did in films like Edward Scissorhands or Pirates of the Caribbean, creating that extra sense of persazz in virtually every shot he stars in – he’s a consistently striking actor to look at, and a very giving performer, particularly when he’s got material like this, mainly because you literally don’t know what he going to do next. Some might say, neither does he ! Ask children who is their favourite male actor for comedy and I wonder how many would plum instantly for Will Smith. I’d hope more somehow might go for Johnny Depp.

Perhaps one too many songs on offer here, in the final analysis, but it’s worth seeing for Depp’s performance, so perhaps make sure you’ve got some suitable nourishment in the seat beside you for the moments when the efforts of the Oompa-Loompas might make it seem to drag a little !

Matt Arnoldi