Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Right now you can watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Australia on Foxtel Now and MGM Amazon Channel, and in the US on MGM Plus and Wonder Project Amazon Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 745 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Dick Van Dyke is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Foxtel Now whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang earns its spot. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. A hapless inventor finally finds success with a flying car, which a dictator from a foreign government sets out to take for himself. Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1968. The timing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Dick Van Dyke's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.