9 Classic Kids Films That Taught Us All Terrible Lessons

2. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

willy wonka I'm not even going to take a cheap shot at the eccentric middle-aged man who desperately needs the help of a small child to help him with his candy-making business, or how all the nasty evil little children get punished in horrifyingly inventive ways. There's a bigger problem for me in this story, and its name is Grandpa Joe. So the Bucket family live in abject poverty, so much so that the four elderly grandparents all have to share one bed, on account of being bedridden. Yeah, about that. Apparently all it takes is the promise of a little chocolate, and Grandpa Joe will forget all about his convenient handicap. Cause that selfish old man is dancing around like a Ziegfeld Girl within minutes of seeing the golden ticket. He'd been in bed for twenty years. All that time he could have been working and helping out the family so they could afford regular meals and stuff. How is this not addressed at all in the film?
Contributor
Contributor

Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.