The box-office hit Wonka is a wild flight of imagination, but within the glamor and fantasy lies a hard truth: The mighty often manipulate government power to shut out competitors, stifling innovation and individual rights. The regulatory barriers manipulated by Willy Wonka's powerful rivals to stymie entrepreneurs are all too real.
In the film's opening scene, Wonka arrives in the big city, scrappy but determined to fulfill his dreams of building a thriving candy business. In song, Wonka echoes the feelings of many who come to our own country in search of opportunity: "In this city, anyone can be successful if they've talent and work hard—or so they say."
