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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 23, 2008

Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Johnny Depp stars as Willy Wonka in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” airing at 7:30 tonight on ABC Family.

Warner Bros.

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TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005, 7:30 p.m., ABC Family), or "Holes" (2003, 8 p.m., Disney Channel). When a fable is done well, the results can be stunning. The story can nudge the edges of reality, for comedy or drama or both. And the director can create offbeat visual images. Tim Burton is accustomed to the offbeat. He's the ideal director for "Charlie," the tale of a little boy and a magical candymaker (Johnny Depp). Andrew Davis usually does such taut films as "The Fugitive." Here, he has just the right feel for a movie about a work camp in which kids simply dig and fill holes. Shia LaBeouf, prior to his "Indiana Jones" days, stars.

"Grey's Anatomy," 7 p.m., ABC. If you missed the season finale, here's an instant rerun. The team tries to free a boy from hardening concrete, Meanwhile, Cristina finally seems giddy. And Alex tries to help Rebecca (formerly known as Jane Doe and Ava), in the aftermath of her false pregnancy.

OF NOTE

"Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," 6-8 p.m., Ion. The good news is that this film, which debuted Saturday, has great work from Dougray Scott, as a modern-day Jekyll and Hyde. The bad: The second half of the film has absurd plot twists involving a young lawyer and a court case.

"Cheaper By the Dozen" (2003), 7-9 p.m., Fox. This lightweight film has a much better cast than it deserves, making it pleasant enough to watch. That includes Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt as the parents and Hilary Duff and Tom Welling as two of their kids; Ashton Kutcher even shows up (uncredited) as Bud McNulty, a boyfriend.

"Ghost Whisperer," 7 p.m., CBS. In this rerun, a spirit that has menaced Melinda is now doing the same to Andrea.

"Moonlight," 8 p.m., CBS. In a rerun, Beth is investigating a drug-overdose case. Mick feels it may be connected to a powerful vampire.

"Numb3rs," 9 p.m., CBS. Freeway drivers are attacked, but the weapons and the locations vary widely. Charlie tries to determine if they're really random, in this rerun.