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Review by: Jack Foley | Rating:
One
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES: Feature length audio commentary
by Director Angela Robinson. A Day at the Races. Breaking The
Rules: Stunts From Herbie Fully Loaded. Bringing Herbie To Life.
Alternate Opening - With optional director audio commentary. 7
Deleted Scenes. Love Bug Day at Disneyland. Gag Reel. Lindsay
Lohan Music Video 'First'.
WITH the continuing rise in fuel prices, it was only a matter
of time before it became cheaper to run Herbie on special effects.
Yet the decision threatens to stall Fully Loaded on the grid,
given that the return of the white VW Beetle is blighted by some
truly appalling effects sequences.
Herbie first charmed cinema-goers in The Love Bug in 1968, following
which his exploits gave rise to several family-friendly movies.
Herbie Goes Bananas temporarily put the skids on the franchise
in 1980 but the plucky VW now returns for another instalment in
Fully Loaded, which also boasts everyone's favourite Disney babe,
Lindsay Lohan, among its star performers.
Sadly, however, Herbie enthusiasts may lament the makeover, given
its over-reliance on special effects and largely unconvincing
set pieces.
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The plot finds Herbie being rescued
from near certain death (from crushing) by Lohan's Maggie Peyton,
a third generation member of a NASCAR racing family, who dreams
of winning from behind the wheel.
Maggie's chances of racing are continually thwarted, however,
by her over-protective dad, Ray Peyton Sr (Michael Keaton), who
would prefer to back her brother, Ray, Jr. (Breckin Meyer), to
carry on the family legacy - even though he is a terrible racer.
But with Herbie at her disposal, Maggie soon discovers that
the cheeky #53 is more than just a regular car, and soon finds
herself facing off against the egotistical racing champ, Trip
Murphy (Matt Dillon), with the help of her mechanic friend and
potential love-interest, Kevin (Justin Long).
The ensuing family adventure attempts to combine the sweet values
of old-fashioned Disney-style fun with something a little more
contemporary.
The result is a film that's sure to win over kids who spend their
time playing computer games, but which will come as a disappointment
to anyone in search of real old-school values.
There is the odd cheeky Herbie moment to savour, while Lohan
proves adept at playing to the family market (even if some of
her outfits do not!) but the mix is a little too uneven, making
this a fairly bumpy ride for anyone with prior knowledge of the
franchise.
Related stories: Michael
Keaton - a special feature
Lindsay Lohan interview
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