I enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a lot. The rest of my family did as well. This review won't get into as much detail as some, but I will say this: If you need a movie the whole family can enjoy, skip Herbie and head for the Factory.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the 2nd big-screen adaption of the Roald Dahl classic (the first, starred Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). I heard beforehand two things about this version: First, it was darker. Secondly, that it was a more faithful adaption. Neither was true in my estimation. They both took liberties with the story in small (and large) details, but in different ways were faithful adaptions.
It also isn't true this film is darker. Whoever started this line of thought has never seen the first movie, or doesn't remember it properly. It is safe to say, there is no chicken beheading scene in this film as their was in the original Gene Wilder version. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, watch the boat scene in the original again). Also, Gene Wilder's character was just as mean, cruel and oblivious to the children as Depp's Wonka. The difference is that Depp's is defintely more seperated from society, so his cruelity is more a product of that seperation, as opposed to the choice of Wilder's.
But, these are all silly arguements. This Chocolate Factory is perfectly suitable for everyone, even the cynical teens out there. It's beutifully filmed, directed and scored. The Special Effects are truly special and add to the sense of wonderment. I recommend this movie with no reservations, as you'd have to be Slugworth himself to not enjoy it.