The Willy Wonka movie is not for children. It may look like it on the surface, but you have to look past the candy and all the orange little snookis running around to really get a taste of the dispair and hopelessness that this film represents. I am of course referring to the original movie featuring Gene Wilder, not the newer, lesser Johnny Depp version. No offense towrard Mr. Depp, I just didn't care for that version.
The movie opens on some dilapidated slum where the modern iteration of peasants must toil and live amongst factories that just make smog, apparently. We see Charlie's family, poor, worn out, destitute. But also somewhat happy in eachother's company. But when the contest is announced, they, and indeed the whole world, perks up just for the chance to tour a fucking chocolate factory.
In a world where the only entertainment adults have is watching their children become obese, all nations seem to join together, in a rare moment of unity, to find these elusive golden tickets. Maybe if we had offered the nazis the same chance, we could have avoided that little altercation back in the forties.
As soon as Charlie's family hears about the contest they get so excited, the grandfather even telling him, "This could be your chance, Charlie". His family gets excited because they know his life is shit, and will always be shit. You can see it in the eyes of his suddenly non-parapalegic grandfather. This golden ticket is Charlie's only hope for a life not miserable.
Of course the children that end up with the tickets represent the worse of humanity in its various forms, running the gamut from greed to sloth. These little shitheads are so rotten, the viewer cant help but hope for their gruesome demise. Thankfully you dont have to wait long before the viscious, near-sentient factory claims them one by one. All except for good Charlie, because the movie needs an underdog to root for.
But even Charlie isn't immune to temptation, as he and Granpa Joe steal some of the bubbling, flying water. Maybe it was peer pressure, or maybe he just needed anything to take his mind off of the crushing weight of his own lack-luster future. He honestly felt bad about it, and kharma is almost instant when Granpa and Charlie both are almost cut to ribbons by the ventalation fan.
After all is said and done, Charlie ends up with everything, the chocolate, the factory, and all the green haired little people he could ever want. His whole family is welcome to move in as well. What about his friends? Even if Charlie is a good person, he's only human and his hubris will get the best of him. "Oh you still live in a one room hovel with your entire family? I live in an amazing chocolate factory. No, don't touch my skin, you peasant. Have a gobstopper, on me", because in all of our secret heart-of-hearts, life is all about one-upping our family and friends, "My house is bigger than yours, because I'm better than you."
Right there, after Charlie gets everything, is the underlying message of the movie finally brought to light, and its not that "dreams come true" garbage that Disney force feeds everyone. It's this: a life of hard work and determination gets you nothing but a life filled only with constant struggle and hopelessness, and only random chance or dumb luck can improve your situation. We all know that if Charlie had never found the ticket, he would have just stumbled thru his poverty stricken existence, living and dying as a have-not. Which reminds me, I need to buy lotto tickets.
"Come with me,
and you'll be,
in a world
of pure imagination"
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