Supelice
Dreadfully Boring
Rio Hayward
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Kirandeep Yoder
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
JokerMichel
First of all , there is no serious plot , and no good script . They made some random poor action movie scenes and that's not enough to create an entertaining and suspensful movie
Tweekums
Many years have passed since the sentient 1963 VW Bug named 'Herbie' took the racing world by storm; now he has been consigned to a junk yard awaiting the crusher. Meanwhile Maggie Peyton has just graduated from college so her father rewards her with her choice of car… from the junk yard. Inevitably she chooses Herbie, or more accurately Herbie chooses her. It quickly becomes apparent to her that Herbie is no ordinary car as he drives her to her friend Kevin's garage where he works as a mechanic. He later takes them to a race event where she ends up beating stock car racer Trip Murphey in a street race. He is determined to get his own back and gets her to race against him again; this time the winner gets ownership of the loser's car… Maggie obviously wants Trip's stock car but Herbie doesn't want to be passed over for another car and throws the race. Maggie will have to save him from destruction once more before facing Trip again. There are other problems too Maggie is part of a racing family but promised her father that she wouldn't race again after an accident when she was younger and having been caught lying to him must regain his trust.I'd seen the original Herbie films as a child and recall enjoying them but wasn't expecting too much of this; perhaps it was because I wasn't expecting too much I found myself rather enjoying it. Yes it is obviously rather silly but it is also a lot of fun. Lindsay Lohan is charming as Maggie; she easily carries the film with her fine performance. She is ably supported by Matt Dillon who, unsurprisingly, makes a suitably unpleasant villain in the role of Trip; nicely over the top in a way that remains suitable for a film aimed primarily at children. Michael Keaton and Justin Long also impress as Maggie's father and Kevin respectively. There is another major character of course… Herbie; he is portrayed in an enjoyable way; at first appearing to be somewhat possessed, there is even mention of getting an exorcist, then developing a relationship with Maggie; all without saying a word. The action scenes are for the most part fairly exciting; there are some pretty silly moments but they are clearly aimed at younger viewers and I'm sure they will be delighted by them. Overall I'd recommend this, mainly to those with youngish children but also to the young at heart.
WakenPayne
When I was a child I loved the original movie The Love Bug. Based only on half-forgotten memories the movie was pretty harmless and can entertain children for an hour and a half. To be fair this also is a movie I haven't seen since I was a child but this actually stands out more (but not in a good way).The plot is the recycled plot you see in every kids film about inspiration ever made. Girl finds something that changes her life, girl decides to start using it to her advantage in doing something she (or the thing - considering if it's alive or not) likes or even loves, a complication must arise where the thing is almost taken away from the girl, the thing gets fixed and there must be one final obstacle for the girl and the thing to succeed.I reviewed a pretty similar movie last night, I'll admit that. The problem is that with this everything is contrived. Herbie is to the point of being cartoonish, how many 1963 Volkswagen's have you seen drive alongside walls and do a flip? We're supposed to take that seriously as an audience! Just like the same 1963 Volkswagen destroying a monster truck.The villain makes absolutely no sense. I mean I get that he is a sore loser but putting the competition in a Demolition derby show? Wouldn't the car be worth quite a bit? I know next to nothing about this stuff but it is almost an antique car! Wouldn't taking it away and selling it make more sense? But I digress.The characters also make little sense. Lindsay Lohan plays a teenage girl who wants to do racing but can't because her father wants to be protective of her because her mother died while racing, okay - fine. But why are you letting her brother race? That's either twisted motivations that make no sense or the father is a sexist.Not to mention that... Herbie falls in love with another Volkswagen. I wish I was kidding when I typed this. I'm not against kids films but it really makes you ask questions... like WHAT THE HELL AM I WATCHING?!?! If your making a movie about a car coming to life, fine - it can make way for harmless kids entertainment (like... I don't know THE ORIGINAL) but a love relationship for the car in a kids film is just too... I guess the word is questionable but that's an understatement.It's been a long time since I've seen this movie or the original but the original I remembered as harmless kids fun. This is just weird, alien, over the top and downright ridiculous. It also doesn't help that the story has been done to death and it was better in those other films. Why? I don't know BECAUSE THERE IS NO LOVE RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVING CARS. If you have a choice between this movie and one of the other movies with this recycled premise, choose the other movie with the recycled premise - it'll be better and won't have you ask questions.
Jackson Booth-Millard
I don't know why I decided to watch this film, reprising a Disney franchise, but I suppose it is quite a good family film. Basically Herbie, the Voltswagon with a mind of its own was once a champion racer, but slowly went down hill, but manages to escape being turned into scrap and go to a used car lot. Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan) has graduated college, and her dad Ray Peyton Sr. (Michael Keaton) is taking her to buy a car, and of course (eventually) it is the Bug she chooses. Instead of Maggie taking Herbie for a test drive, it is Herbie that takes her, and she knows he has a mind of his own, and they end up at a car show where they beat all-time racer Trip Murphy (Matt Dillon) in a street race. Trip demands a rematch and attempts to discover the secret behind Herbie, while Maggie tries to prove to her dad she can just a good a winner as he used to be. Also starring Breckin Meyer as Ray Peyton Jr., Justin Long as Kevin, Cheryl Hines as Sally, Jimmi Simpson as Crash, Jill Ritchie as Charisma, Thomas Lennon as Larry Murphy and Jeremy Roberts as Crazy Dave. Besides the well known faces, the car of course is the true star, sure it's cheesy and more for young kids, but quite good none the less, at least once. Worth watching!
