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Friday, July 07, 2017

'Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' Is an Insane, Unappealing, Gratuitous Mash-Up

In recent years, Tom and Jerry have had some unlikely crossover films.  They’ve met Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood, joined Dorothy in her adventure in Oz (twice), and even got to be involved in a Johnny Quest chase.  But their latest one, Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is their most insane yet.

It’s basically a retelling of 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.  Same characters, same plotline, same songs, same key scenes, same lines of dialogue.  But made awful.  Also, it has Tom and Jerry.
The original classic film is pretty bizarre already.  Reimagining it in such a way that will justify Tom and Jerry’s participation to the plot makes the inherent eccentricity unappealing as a consequence, for the resulting execution and creative liberties are devoid of inspiration, imply disturbing connotations, or are simply pretty stupid.  Willy Wonka is bigoted against cats.  There’s this weird Oompa Loompa mouse named Tuffy.  And there’s a scene where Oompa Loompas dry-hump each other.  Seriously, it’s almost as bad as the Tim Burton remake (though I admit I kind of liked Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Willy Wonka when I first watched it).

It’s not even funny.  I find the slapstick mediocre.  Either the quality of Tom and Jerry humor is poor now compared to before or it has always been like that and I’ve just outgrown it (as a kid, classic Tom and Jerry cartoons often had me in stitches).
Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is gratuitous, batty, creepy, dumb, and terrible.  It feels more tediously long than its 80-minute runtime.  There might be some entertainment from it.  But either a six-year-old brain or an acid trip is required in order for someone to have a blast with this mash-up movie.  Better off rewatching Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (the 1971 classic, not the remake).

By the way, with their penchant for animated crossover films, I’m surprised that WWE and Tom and Jerry have yet to collaborate.

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