“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” features an interpretation of the American Dream in the form of a sudden rags-to-riches transformation, a dubious labor system that is not exactly free trade, and an… interesting C.E.O. It’s been years since I read “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” or anything by Roald Dahl, but I remember the character of Willy Wonka well. In fact, the book’s main character is just as much Wonka as Charlie, with Charlie being the center of the story, but Wonka creating and driving it.
But overall, the biggest difference we see is that while Charlie’s past is clear, Wonka’s remains pretty nebulous throughout. That’s what “Wonka” fixes.
“Wonka” explains how Willy Wonka began making chocolate and how he built his factory. At the beginning of “Wonka,” we see Willy (Played by Timothee Chalamet) leave a ship attempting to make a living and give his gift to the world in the big city.
We find out he’s been traveling the world for seven years, taking in all it has to offer and perfecting his craft. It becomes pretty clear after Wonka’s discovery of a chocolate cartel, backed by a corrupt church and choco-holic monks, that succeeding in the business of chocolate will take perseverance, talent, friends and a hat full of dreams.
In the world we live in, “Wonka” offers a needed distraction. It’s a light, positive movie, featuring amazing cast and characters, impressive choreography with an emphasis on dreams. While this may sound corny, “Wonka” pulls it off, balancing story, humor, and emotion.
In previous works, Wonka seems odd, borderline unstable in his behavior. This movie shows a more sympathizable side to the character, presenting him as somewhat quixotic, despite the loss he has endured.
We go back to his childhood, understanding why the character loves chocolate so much, and why he feels driven to share his love with the world. “Wonka” adds a human touch to Willy, showing him as a person, rather than an eccentric, isolationist business owner, isolationism being a critique of the upper class in modern society.
The class struggle is further illustrated, from a woman and her child living in the streets to a billionaire who gags whenever the word poor is uttered in his presence.
The movie also includes what I interpreted as a discreet reference to another more obscure Roald