Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Release Year: 1968

Director: Ken Hughes

Review: What an incredibly odd film this is.  I have a tough time with musicals, so I knew going into 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' I might be heading for disaster.  It was a film I had loved as a child, but haven't revisited in years.  It follows a fairly conventional plot of an eccentric inventor falling for a woman and their outing with his two kids in a beautifully restored vintage car.  

Most of the film is told through a fairy-tale which suits it nicely since most of the movie is absolutely absurd.   There is a lot of imagination and heart in the film, but there is also a good amount of corny humor and slap stick nonsense.  I kept going from bored to entertained as if on a see-saw of interest.  Not surprising the enjoyment level tipped much more to the entertained when Dick Van Dyke was on screen who fit the part perfectly and had a good time with the character.  

If nothing else, what saves the film is the inclusion of one of the creepiest villains ever committed to film in the 'child catcher'.  Completely different from the tone of the rest of the film, the performance is simply terrifying for viewers of any age and it makes you wonder how many nightmares this character has spawned over the years.  While it may not be as fun as when I was a child, it had enough nostalgic charm to keep me interested.  I'm no longer the target audience, but it is a classic children's movie that should have an enduring lifetime.
Rating: 3/5