Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Four years after unleashing upon the world what has come to be (rightfully) considered the worst British accent in the history of film, Dick Van Dyke was placed in yet another UK-originated children’s story. But there are quite a few differences between 1964’s Mary Poppins and 1968’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and—aside from both films containing catchy songs filled with nonsense syllables—not a lot of similarities. Firstly, this isn’t Disney. Secondly, it’s based on a book by Ian Fleming (the creepy guy behind the relentlessly ugly-as-fuck James Bond novels) and adapted by Roald Dahl (the silly guy behind James and the Giant Peach). Thirdly, Van Dyke gets to keep his American accent, which is a great call because this film already has way too much going on for you to be distracted by Dick’s glottal manglings. Seriously, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a lot; a lot of song, a lot of plot, a lot of crazy inventions and dead-eyed kid actors... It’s like a cinematic Clif Bar of kid-film clichés. Chew carefully.
by Bobby Roberts