I enjoy the classic Willy Wonka film with Gene Wilder as much as anybody. I did not like the newer Johnny Depp version of the story at all. There is one huge thing that really bugs me about the story especially as told in the older version. Charlie Bucket’s Grandpa Joe is the worst grandfather in movie history. Let us explore some reasons for my conclusion.
Lazy Sack
While Charlie’s mother slaves away to support not only Charlie but many elderly people who all share the same bed, Grandpa Joe just sits there, in bed, wasting his time sucking up resources for tobacco money. When Charlie gets the ticket he doesn’t choose to take his hard-working, caring mother, he wants Grandpa Joe to come. Bedridden Grandpa Joe? How could he possibly make it? Oh wait, now suddenly he is singing and dancing around the bed. All this time he could have jumped out of bed and improved life for his family by working and didn’t. As soon as a chance to see a chocolate factory comes along he is Mr. Go-getter.
Bad Influence
Grandpa Joe later tells Charlie to steal the fizzy lifting drinks and almost gets him killed by the strangely-placed chopping fan at the top of the super tall room. Good idea Grandpa. This later gets Charlie yelled at by Gene Wilder and appears to cost him his winnings. It is at this point that Grandpa Joe with his great wisdom tells Charlie that they were going to give Slugworth the everlasting gobstopper. Luckily, that time Charlie didn’t listen to Grandpa Joe and he gave it back to Wonka.
This Video
The fact that Grandpa Joe didn’t react like this also makes him a horrible Grandparent.
It is things like these that make Grandpa Joe a shining example for his impressionable grandson. Way to go Joe.