CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a sweet movie in a bittersweet wrapper.

(This is not the first film made from the classic children's tale by Roald Dahl. There was a movie in 1971 called Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.)

The look of the film (created by Tim Burton), and the strange character created by Johnny Depp, seem to be promising depravity and evil, but they are just dressing up a sweet confection with enough sour notes (sorry about the mixed metaphor here) to prevent sugar-shock.

The plot is simple; the presentation is elaborate; the payoff is fun. The film is good.