The Love Bug (1997) (TV)

Director:

Peyton Reed

Writers (WGA):

Gordon Buford (earlier story)
Bill Walsh (earlier screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Herbie's Back In A Brand-New Movie!

Plot:

Herbie, the magical Volkswagen Beetle, is passed on to a new owner. Together, they must battle a dastardly racer and his devil-car "Horace"...

Plot Keywords:

Volkswagen Beetle | Volkswagen | Animate Car | Smart Car | Remake

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Bruce Campbell	...	Hank Cooper
John Hannah	...	Simon Moore III
Alexandra Wentworth	...	Alex Davis
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Roddy Martel
Dana Gould	...	Rupert
Harold Gould	...	Dr. Gustav Stumpfel
Micky Dolenz	...	Donny Shotz
Burton Gilliam	...	Mecanic Race Announcer
Clarence Williams III	...	Chuck
Dean Jones	...	Jim Douglas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Burch	...	Tow Truck Driver
Jeff Garlin	...	Highway Patrolman
Alecia Guzman	...	Bride Model
Rich Hall
Christin Hinojosa	...	Trendy Gal
Andy Houts	...	1st Mechanic
Doug McCallie	...	Cocky Mechanic
Earl McDaniel III
Peter Spears	...	Young Dr. Stumpfel
Andrew Woodworth	...	Trendy Guy

Runtime:

88 min | Argentina:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Television

Trivia:

Herbie The Love Bug was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe ragtop sedan painted in Volkswagen L87 pearl white. Under normal circumstances, the interior would be a matching white. However, Herbie's interior was painted a special non-reflective grey color so the camera and studio lights would not reflect.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the "dueling race", Alex takes off her helmet twice.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#35.1)" (2006)

Herbie's back...

John Hannah is fun as the bad guy -in a satirical kind of way- but he's still no match for the antics of David Tomlinson in the 1969-original. Kevin J. O'Connor does his best in the part of the goodhearted hero sidekick - but, far from a match for memorable Buddy Hackett. And then there is Bruce Campbell who is so-so as the human hero of the story. Thank God the star of the original movie series -Dean Jones- turns up. He is the only real link between the original and this remake. And to a guy who grew up on Herbie-movies it is a surprisingly tear-jerking and emotional moment as Jones -30 years later- gets behind the wheel of his Wolksvagen-pal one last time, although he doesn't actually drive off. This time around the main competition in the movie comes from a second bug called Horace (but it should be nicknamed "The Hate Bug"). Computer animations creates the basis for the effects, but the story however is what one would expect from the usual made-for-TV-Disney movie: barely average. Which is sad, because Herbie deserves more effort, and it doesn't take much to add more charm to the story of the Love Bug then what was managed here. For example in the music: One of the major assets of the original Love Bug-movie was it's charming catchy score -as lovable as the car itself. But composer Shirley Walker should have been kicked off the Disney-lot for this simple, below-by-the-numbers soundtrack. One would think it too was created by a computer! Would it hurt to keep some of the original music in the remake ? In the end The Love Bug 97's only real asset is our love for the little car with a heart, and nothing else. If there is a next time: let Dean Jones STAR in the thing, and let him and Herbie win their last big race, before letting them deservedly drive off into the sunset together. And us Herbie-fanatics could weep and weep... goodbye Herbie! Goodbye...