Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Review: Is Johnny Depp’s Wonka Underrated?

Is Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka underrated? We're reviewing Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) for Comfort Movie Month, and it gets heated: one of us thinks it beats the 1971 Gene Wilder original, and one of us really doesn't. On this episode of The Superlatives, Steve, Brian and Alyssa hand out yearbook-style superlatives to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. We get into Johnny Depp's take on Willy Wonka (and those Michael Jackson comparisons), Wonka's daddy issues with Christopher Lee, why Grandpa Joe might be the real villain, and whether the 2005 version is better than Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). Plus behind-the-scenes trivia you might not know: 🍫 The Rock was Tim Burton's backup pick to play Willy Wonka 🐿️ The squirrels were real and trained for weeks 🎩 Deep Roy played 165 Oompa Loompas and got a $1M salary bump 🌈 The factory reveal is a direct homage to The Wizard of Oz 🏭 The chocolate room was a real, practical set Final grades are at the end. Do you agree with us? Tell us in the comments if Depp's Wonka is underrated or overhated! 👍 Like, subscribe and share if you enjoyed it! Next week: Starship Troopers🎬 CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold Open 0:15 Intro – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Review 0:45 Comfort Movie Month Picks 3:41 Box Office & Rotten Tomatoes Score 4:26 Is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Overhated? 5:55 1971 Willy Wonka vs 2005: Why It's Not a Musical 6:35 Roald Dahl's Book vs the Gene Wilder Movie 7:32 The Rock Almost Played Willy Wonka 10:25 Roald Dahl Trivia & Real Nestlé Chocolate on Set 11:12 Tim Burton's Wizard of Oz Homage & Color Style 12:09 Addressing Johnny Depp's Controversy 13:53 Plot Summary: Is This Secretly a Horror Movie? 15:43 The Squirrels Were Real – Behind the Scenes 20:07 Best Scene: Chocolate Room vs Squirrel Room 23:11 Biggest Problem: Willy Wonka's Daddy Issues 25:05 Grandpa Joe Is the Real Villain 27:27 Most Dramatic Performance: Veruca Salt 30:10 Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka & the Michael Jackson Comparison 33:25 Oompa Loompa Controversy & Plot Holes 36:56 Better Title: Death by Chocolate? 37:53 Best Costume: Willy Wonka's Outfit 38:42 Should Johnny Depp Have Won an Oscar? 42:16 The Bucket Family Are Terrible Parents 46:04 Best Shot & Gene Wilder's Famous Entrance 48:34 Johnny Depp & Helena Bonham Carter's Best Movies 51:13 Where We Would Have Died in the Factory 56:00 Is the Movie Too Long? The Bad Ending 57:41 Christopher Lee as Wonka's Dentist Dad 58:35 Deep Roy Played 165 Oompa Loompas (Cast Salaries) 1:04:19 Props We'd Steal: Golden Ticket & Glass Elevator 1:06:29 Movies to Pair With It: Spy Kids, Alice in Wonderland, Sleepy Hollow 1:08:30 Hot Take: The 2005 Version Is Better Than the 1971 Original 1:13:05 Johnny Depp's Funniest Wonka Moments 1:17:52 Is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Still Essential? 1:19:53 Was Willy Wonka Queer? 1:22:08 Best Quotes: "Good Morning Starshine" & Cannibalism Line 1:27:21 Plot Holes: Grandpa Joe, Wonka's Money & the Chocolate Palace 1:36:53 Best Moment: Charlie Turns Down the Factory 1:39:52 Final Grades & Verdict #CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory #JohnnyDepp #MovieReview