Genre: Fantasy
Runtime: 115 minutes
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Plot Summary:
Charlie Bucket is a young boy who is due for a bit of good luck. He and his family, living in a tiny shack, are in great need of everything money can buy, but they are not lacking in love.
Overshadowing the Bucket family’s rickety home is the Wonka Chocolate Factory. One day, the eccentric owner of the factory, Willy Wonka announces that five lucky children who find golden tickets in his chocolate bars will get to tour the factory.
Worldwide mania over finding the tickets ensues. Charlie deals with disappointment while he and his supportive family watch other children get the tickets. But, as luck would have it, Charlie eventually finds a ticket.
On the specified day, Charlie, Grandpa Joe, and the other four winners - gluttonous Augustus, spoiled Veruca, arrogant Mike, and hypercompetitive Violet, along with their chosen guardians - are admitted to the factory for a fantastic and sometimes disturbing experience.
Charlie is well-behaved throughout the adventure. One by one, though, each of the other four children gives in to temptation and receives a fitting consequence. Parents beware, because the Oompa Loompas are quick to point out the parents’ roles in causing these loathsome children’s behaviors.
Note to Parents on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory":
Children will love the vibrant colors in the movie and the fanciful candy coated surroundings. In typical Tim Burton style, though, this movie is somewhat darker than the original movie. The factory tour starts off with a bizarre puppet show that catches on fire. Very young children may also find the scary music and intense scenes surrounding the children’s travails to be slightly frightening.
The updated version of the story contains some humor geared toward adults or teens, and it lacks a little of the moral fiber that wove the original movie together so well. For instance, the Oompa Loompa’s new songs, peppered with cultural spoofs, do not spell out the morals of the story as clearly as the memorable songs from the original.
Overall, the movie is still a wonderfully unique story about children (both naughty and nice), parents, and an eccentric candy man. Especially redeeming is the endearing tale of Charlie’s own loyalty to his humble family.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Content Overview:
Violence (Medium)
-A child yells, "Die, die, die!" at a video game.
-A little girl gets attacked by squirrels, but she is not harmed.
-Oompa Loompas are shown whipping a cow to make "whipped cream."
-A knife is shown briefly in a spoof on the movie "Psycho."
Sex/Nudity (Very Low)
-Violet's mom wears a somewhat revealing top, shows cleavage.
-A double entendre is used "Don't touch that squirrel's nuts..."
Profanity (Low)
-The word "hell" is used.
Alcohol/Drugs (Very Low)
-The movie very briefly shows Veruca’s mother taking a drink of an alcoholic beverage.
Bad Behavior (High)
-Movie contains several examples of children behaving disrespectfully and disobeying rules.
Scary Scenes (Low)
-Puppet show dolls melt and eyes pop out.
-Scary music plays during scenes when naughty children endure the consequences of their actions.
Talk with Your Family About "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory":
- In the beginning, the movie emphasizes several themes around luck. What part does luck play in life? Did Charlie find the lucky ticket because he “deserved” it? What are the probabilities of winning in real life games, contests, and lotteries based on luck?
- Charlie’s family is extremely poor. Does poverty exist in our world today? How can people who live in such humble circumstances still be happy?
- What causes people to lose their jobs, and how does it affect their families?
- Grandpa George teaches Charlie a lesson about money. What kinds of things are more important than money?
- In what ways do families help and support each other during good and bad times?
- The other children who toured the factory with Charlie displayed bad behavior and were meted out a just consequence. How do our decisions lead to consequences in real life?
- The Oompa Loompas blame the parents for some of their children’s bad behavior. How do parents cause this type of behavior? Should children also be held accountable for their actions?
- In the movie, Willy Wonka makes a reference to “cannibalism.” Some children may pick up on the word and want to know what it means.
