Gene Wilder’s Wonka, though differing to some degree from Dahl’s character, is thoroughly wonderful: sardonic, odd, and vaguely menacing. “Stop. Don’t. Come back” His bemused reactions to the awful behaviour of the children visiting his factory is a highlight. The script is clever and most of the songs quite good. I enjoy a lot of the early 70s vibe of the early parts of the film.
Sadly, the films special effects and production design don’t live up to the wonders…