Overview: Based on the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming, the film tells the story of an eccentric professor (played by Dick Van Dyke) who invents wacky machinery, but can't seem to make ends meet. When he invents a revolutionary car, a foreign government becomes interested in it, and resorts to skullduggery to get their hands on it.

Blu ray+DVD Verdict: Along with just about everyone else anywhere near my age (I was born in 1966), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (not "Charlie &..." the Tim Burton remake) were the cinematic musical fantasy twin pillars of my early childhood. As such, they enjoy can do no wrong status in my lights.

While I originally watched them with the uncritical eyes of a very young child, I must admit that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang suffers the most of the two from reviewing as an adult, crossing the line into twee treacle near the beginning and infantile silliness near the end, which Willy Wonka never does.

Still (and I know this is self-contradictory) the film will remain forever perfect for those of us who first encountered it When We Were Very Young. (With the notable exception of the unbearable musical number "Lovely Lonely Man", which always has served as a room clearing test of willpower for any viewer. Hated it then, hate it now. If you can make it through that song, the rest is golden. Never in my life have I ever met anyone who goes around humming Lovely, Lonely Man, which is something I can't say for any of the other songs in the film.)

Set in England, Van Dyke plays the loving father to twins, a boy and girl, as well as being a somewhat bumbling inventor. His portrayal and connection with the children is heart-warming, charming, and all-around winning--he can sing and dance exceptionally well! Sally Howles, his radiant co-star, portrays Truly Scrumptious, who suits her rather unusual name perfectly--like Van Dyke, she is charming with a tongue-in-cheek kind of humor and primness that is all too endearing.

The story takes place before Van Dyke's character pleases his children in purchasing their 'toy' car (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)--including the means he goes to get the money - and the imaginative story he tells that takes up most of the movie where an evil baron will go to any means of getting the car.

If you have children or simply want to watch a dazzlingly beautiful, heart-warming story, I highly recommend this! The delivery was faster than I had imagined and the price perfect! This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.35:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

Remastered Blu-ray Feature with newly upgraded 7.1 audio All-new “Toot Sweet Symphony” melody maker – the Toot Sweet Toots Musical Maestro
All-new “Chitty Chitty’s, Bang Bang, Driving Game”
Remembering Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke
“A Fantasmagorical Motorcar” featurette
Sherman Brothers' Rare Demos of the film’s most popular songs
Vintage Featurettes including, “The Ditchling Tinkerer,” “Dick Van Dyke Press Interview,” and “The Potts Children's Featurette”
Photo Gallery
Vintage Advertising Gallery including English and French versions of the theatrical trailer and several television spots
Sing-a-long version of the film
Music Machine

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