Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Based on James Bond creator Ian Fleming's children's book, this 1968 musical has never enjoyed critical cachet. But it does hold a special place in viewers' hearts for Dick Van Dyke's energetic performance, as well as its flights of high-flying fantasy, wacky inventions, and Oscar-nominated title song. Van Dyke stars as crackpot inventor Caractacus Potts, who lives in the English countryside with his two children and their dotty grandfather. The first hour sputters along, as Potts nastily spars with Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), and his various inventions--including Toot Sweet, a candy/whistle--backfire. But with the introduction of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a junked racecar that Potts restores, the film switches gears into fantasy overdrive, as the flying, floating Chitty is pursued by buffoonish Baron Bomburst of Vulgaria. Besides the rollicking “Me Ol' Bamboo” and the lullaby “Hushabye Mountain,” the music by Richard and Robert Sherman is not as magical as their score for Mary Poppins. Fans of Agent 007 will delight in the appearance of the late Desmond "Q" Llewelyn as a junkyard dealer, and Gert "Goldfinger" Frobe as the Baron. And that's Benny Hill as the Toymaker who aids Potts and his family. Presented with both a wonderful new widescreen transfer and a full screen version, the extras on this double-disc "special edition" include a new interview with Van Dyke, vintage production featurettes, a sing-along option, and a 34-page storybook. Certain to be a real joyride for diehard fans determined to take “Chitty” out for a spin, this is optional for others. (K. Lee Benson)[Blu-ray Review—Nov 9, 2010—MGM, 2 discs, 145 min., G, $34.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1968's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sports a nice transfer with DTS-HD 7.1 sound. Blu-ray extras include a “Remembering Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke” retrospective featurette (26 min.), the production featurettes “A Fantasmagorical Motorcar” (10 min.) and “The Ditchling Tinkerer” (10 min.), a vintage interview with Van Dyke (9 min.), “The Potts Children” featurette on the young actors (3 min.), “Music Machine” song access, a sing-along track, 14 demos of original versions of the composer Sherman Brothers songs, the “Chitty Chitty's, Bang Bang, Driving Game,” the “Toot Sweet Toots Musical Maestro” game, a photo gallery, trailers, and a bonus DVD version of the film. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray debut for a popular family film.]