31. May 2010
I somehow went through childhood without watching this film in its entirety. My brother got it on tape when I was a senior in high school. Like any three-year-old’s preferred entertainment, it stayed on permanent repeat for a while, so it wasn’t long before I finally saw Gene Wilder in all his wacky glory. At first, the movie seemed like an average family film – entertaining enough but nothing truly special.
A few more viewings later, this classic oddity became a favorite. It still is to this day. Chock full of subtleties, snark, and psychedelia, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is timeless in an endearingly dated way. Though best known as a children’s movie, it appeals to a broader audience. Ask me how!