|
|
|
 |
Reviews |
 |
Source:
rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup
Rating:
 
|
After "The Parent Trap" and "Freaky Friday," Disney continues its
unofficial series of "no-brainer remakes starring Lindsay Lohan"
with "Herbie: Fully Loaded," a family-friendly redo of the 1968
classic "The Love Bug" about a freewheelin' Volkswagen Beetle with a
mind all its own. Surprisingly this 2005 version isn't half bad due,
in part, to Lohan's typically solid performance, Angela ("D.E.B.S.")
Robinson's sound direction, and a tasty contribution by Matt Dillon
(who can concurrently be seen in Paul Haggis's "Crash"), perfectly cast
as NASCAR prima donna Trip Murphy. In fact, Dillon possibly betters
David Tomlinson in the original... although let's try not to compare the
two, since the original "'Love Bug" was a ton of fun in its own right
(still is, in fact--I watched it again just the other night). This
time around writers Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant move the action to the
racecar circuit where Ray Peyton, Sr. (Michael Keaton) is struggling to
maintain sponsorship due to a run of recent poor showings. But when
the junker he buys his daughter Maggie (Lohan) as a graduation gift
turns out to be that sassy little no. 53 that loves to race, Ray's luck
gets a positive kick in the carburetor. There's not a whole lot of
originality in this girl-meets-born-again-speedway-racer storyline but
it's delivered with sass and style by a production team with fond
memories of the original film (which itself spawned a bunch of sequels,
clips from which play nostalgically under "'Fully Loaded"'s opening
credits). And in keeping with today's equality there's a love interest
not only for Maggie (Justin Long's youthful mechanic) but for Herbie as
well, a curvaceous yellow ride.
By : David N. Butterworth (http://members.dca.net/dnb)
|
|
Source:
rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup
Rating:
|
HERBIE FULLY LOADED, a classic kids' movie, redefines the word "silly." Clearly targeting the single-
digit-age demographic, the movie doesn't try to turn off those who have long since been in a double-digit
bracket, but it doesn't pander to them either. If there were any jokes in it aimed solely to amuse the
parents in the audience, I didn't notice them. On the other hand, if you're able to pretend that you're just
eight again, you may be surprised to find that you actually kind of enjoy the film's intentionally stupid and
very predictable brand of humor. Lean over Herbie, a 1963 "bug," and he'll squirt you with oil if he
disapproves of you or your attitude. And, if he really doesn't like you, he'll bang you on the head with his
hood. Hello, slapstick.
HERBIE FULLY LOADED starts with a montage of Herbie's troubles and triumphs -- he once won both
first and third place in a race by splitting himself in two. Currently awaiting destruction by compaction at a
junk yard, he is rescued by Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan), an ex-street racer, who picks him as her
college graduation gift from her dad (Michael Keaton). Although Herbie blinks his eyes, toots his horn,
and does all kinds of cute tricks, he has difficulty getting Maggie's attention until he squeezes out the
competition -- a small Japanese car -- by falling on it.
The rest of the story concerns a rivalry between Maggie and Trip Murphy (Matt Dillon), a cocksure racer
who lives his life by going from one promotional venue to another. Think slimeball Trip might get squirted
and hit a few times by Herbie? Of course. You, however, will leave the theater none the worse for wear
-- so long as you never make the mistake of taking HERBIE FULLY LOADED seriously for a second. But
there's no need to spoil your childish fun by thinking too hard.
HERBIE FULLY LOADED runs a little long at 1:41. It is rated G and would be acceptable for anyone
under 10 or those who can make like they are.
The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at
the AMC and the Century theaters.
By : Steve Rhodes (http://www.internetreviews.com/)
|
 |
Featured Posters |
|
|
