"Herbie Fully Loaded” (Walt Disney Pictures)
It has been twenty-five years since the last Herbie the Love Bug adventure; but the charm of the Volkswagen Beetle is still appealing. You have to wonder what took Disney so long to make up its mind to give us another “Herbie” movie. But they have, and it is titled “Herbie: Fully Loaded.”
This movie stars teen sensation Lindsay Lohan as Maggie Peyton. Maggie comes from a long line of racecar drivers but her dad (Michael Keaton) has decided she will not follow in the family tradition. That is left up to her brother Ray (Brecken Meyer).
After Maggie graduates from college, and before she takes a job with ESPN in New York, she spends some time with her family. As a graduation present her dad offers to buy her a used car to tool around in. At the local salvage yard is where Maggie meets Herbie and magic ensues.
Maggie ends up in a battle of wits and wheels with ace racecar driver Tripp Murphy (Matt Dillon). She also finds romance with her childhood friend Kevin (Justin Long).
The entire plot is developed at an entertaining pace and in G rated fashion. The kids are going to love this movie and the adults are not going to be bored with it either. Herbie has long been a fan favorite and he doesn’t disappoint in this latest chapter of his life. The little car actually seems like a person and the creators of his look should get star billing.
Lohan is a natural for a role like this one. With all the tabloid press she gets it is unlikely she will be able to handle clean cut roles of this sort for much longer. But for the moment she is a fresh-faced beauty who can handle the challenge of acting opposite a car.
Dillon is wonderfully comedic in his role as the villainous racecar driver who hates Herbie. It is not often we get to see Dillon in such a light-hearted role but he handles it with perfect timing and expression.
Those who are quick to criticize this movie need to lighten up. C’mon, it’s a Herbie movie, not “Citizen Kane.” Movies like this one have a place and it is strictly in the kiddie corner; and for those of us who remember seeing Herbie when we were kids ourselves.
So gather up your family and have a great night out with Herbie, Maggie and all the gang. This film is fully loaded to be entertaining. Your kids are going to love it.
I scored “Herbie: Fully Loaded” a racing 6 out of 10.
