#dickvandyke

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang contains the kind of sweetness and whimsy you can’t help but fall in love with. While it isn’t on the same level as another certain musical starring Dick Van Dyke in which there are impressive scenes of choreographed dancing, and fantastical voyages to magical lands with charming British children (you know the one), it's easy to see why this has become a favorite.

Jeremy and Jemima Potts (Adrian Hall and Heather Ripley) live with their inventor of a father, Caractacus (Dick Van Dyke), and grandfather (Lionel Jeffries). Struggling to find money to fund his outrageous contraptions and inventions, Caractacus tries one fund-raising idea after another, which crosses his path with that of the lovely Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes). While grandpa stays at home, everyone else goes on an adventure in the newly constructed, most amazing car: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

There’s just something about British children that lends itself to these light, family-friendly musical adventures. You're hooked as soon as you hear the kids (who do a pretty good job with their roles) excitedly tell their father about what kind of fancy car they want. Dick Van Dyke (this time without the hilarious British accent) is charming around the little ones and has great chemistry with his co-star, Sally Ann Howes. Their chemistry is so good any time the two are separated all you can think about is them reuniting. Yeah, the car and the inventions are nice and all, but that romance? It’s the real excitement in the film.

As a musical, this fares well. Numbers like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are instant favorites. Others are not quite as quotable, but the scenes they’re in are iconic. I won’t forget Me Ol’ Bamboo anytime soon thanks to the spectacular dance choreography that accompanies it. Like the voices that bring the lyrics to your favorite bands’ greatest hit, the steps, kicks, and twirls are integral to many of the tunes’ success. I’d tip my hat to the Sherman Brothers for another quality job if I had one. We’re not just talking about just one or two songs either, but 13!

What unfortunately prevents the film from becoming all it could be is the excess fat. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lasts over two hours, complete with an intermission. The second half is taken up mostly by a long fantasy sequence. Essentially a dream, it's way excessive; like two books/ movies smashed into one. Too bad the back end isn't nearly as engrossing as the first half. I wouldn’t have cut out that second storyline entirely. It also offers memorable scenes and characters (most notably Robert Helpmann as the Childcatcher). It’s too long though.

Children will be enchanted by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I wouldn't say it's strictly for children though. The dance choreography and the romance will be much better appreciated by the parents watching. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen the film, or you’ve delayed your viewing because of the title (we've all made the same jokes at its expense) clear your schedule and sit down with it. I look forward to seeing it again, even if… well… it’s not quite as good as that OTHER musical with the Sherman Brothers’ music and Dick Van Dyke. (On DVD, September 25, 2015)

Ok so first off: I saw this movie with my daughter (her first movie in a theater) and I highly recommend seeing it with a toddler because your enjoyment of it will improve by like 100x but also you’ll have to deal with a toddler who is afraid of animated wolves on bowls (and also figurative ones played by Colin Firth). Still, this is a kids movie for kids and my kid liked it. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WIGS? Let’s discuss. 

Let it be known that in preparation for seeing this movie, I showed the original Mary Poppins to my daughter and have now viewed it approximately 300 times. Clearly the filmmakers of the sequel did the same because they basically made a remake of it. I once coined a term for sequels that are just a rehashing of the original but with new actors - a repeatquel. This movie is the definition of repeatquel (also please make “repeatquel” happen you guys!) 

Emily Blunt is perfectly (or should I say “practically perfectly” - omg I’ve seen Mary Poppins so many times ugh) cast as Mary Poppins, an ageless sorceress who travels by umbrella or kite (depending) and can also travel between real or animated life (depending) and can speak to dogs and doesn’t explain anything. She is a supreme weirdo masquerading as a daycare employee and honestly she’s all of our lifegoals, amiright? 

There are few people who would want to take on this role and immediately be compared to DAME JULIE ANDREWS but Blunt pulls it off. Though she is basically supposed to be the same age as Julie Andrews in the first film, time has elapsed for everyone else and we’re now dealing with Michael Banks’ kids in the 30s. Michael Banks is now played by a mustached Ben Whishaw who has the very best hair in life anyway and Jane Banks is now Emily Mortimer in a very acceptable 30s bob. 

Also her hat and pants game is EVERYTHING.

Also national (American and UK) treasure Julie Walters is now the Banks maid, Ellen in a nice old lady wig. 

Clearly this production was MADE OF MONEY and for the most part, the wigs reflect this. Blunt’s 1930s fingerwave lewk is not to be trifled with and her olde timey Gibson girl lewk in this animated fever dream section is also pretty good. Also in this repeatquel, sidewalk drawings are now bowls. GO WITH IT.

Within this animated bowl fever dream, there is a section with dancing penguins and a vaudeville-like show which allows Lin-Manuel Miranda to rap (as contractually obligated?) and gives Blunt this blunt bob. This wig is better than anything sported by Roxie Hart in Broadway’s Chicago currently. So. Good.

OH AND MERYL STREEP IS IN IT. 

I see what they’re trying to do here with this wig but.....um......I don’t know if it is succeeding in the way intended. The cut is very Theda Bera but the color is pure Lady Gaga mid-A Star Is Born which is to say: TRASH. Also I’m sure this wig cost about 200x what Lady Gaga’s cost. Also this whole song was very bizarre but I think Meryl Streep now has the right to sing whatever song in whatever wig she wants always. I’m sure it’s in her contract. 

I cannot say a negative word about Dick Van Dyke. His whole lewk is magic and my reaction to this whole part of the movie is basically the same as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s face here. But also I cried. 

OH ALSO EFFING ANGELA LANSBURY IS IN THE END! This role was written for DAME JULIE ANDREWS but she was busy making Aquaman (YES REALLY) and I will take Dame Jessica Fletcher any day of the week. The hat is really doing the work for the wig here. 

In the end, much like the film: practically perfect wigwurq!

VERDICT: WURQS