Dean Jones returns as race driver Jim Douglas, which in my opinion is good as Jones seems to be in the better Herbie movies. Unfortunately, there is no word as to what happened to Michele Lee or Buddy Hackett, but there are other capable actors to fill those roles. Funnyman Don Knotts plays his mechanic Wheely Applegate.
The story involves a six million dollar diamond that has been stolen by a couple of dimwitted thieves (Roy Kinnear and Bernard Fox). While watching that though you do sort of feel like you are watching a PINK PANTHER movie. Anyways, to slip away from the cops the thieves put the diamond into the gas tank of Herbie who is going to be driven by Jones and Knotts in a race from Paris to Monte Carlo. Now the thieves must get the diamond back without anyone knowing.
Some good laughs are had in this version of Herbie. Yes, of course it is silly, but not quite as silly as the last one. I think Herbie as well has a better connection to the story than part 2 or part 4 as I think when Herbie races you have a better movie than when he is out saving the world from some silly villains. I also think it was a perfect time to change the setting of a Herbie movie. The last two were in San Francisco where this one is set mostly in France. Also starring Julie Sommars as race driver Diane Darcy and Eric Braeden as the villainous race driver Bruno Von Stickle.
The story involves a six million dollar diamond that has been stolen by a couple of dimwitted thieves (Roy Kinnear and Bernard Fox). While watching that though you do sort of feel like you are watching a PINK PANTHER movie. Anyways, to slip away from the cops the thieves put the diamond into the gas tank of Herbie who is going to be driven by Jones and Knotts in a race from Paris to Monte Carlo. Now the thieves must get the diamond back without anyone knowing.
Some good laughs are had in this version of Herbie. Yes, of course it is silly, but not quite as silly as the last one. I think Herbie as well has a better connection to the story than part 2 or part 4 as I think when Herbie races you have a better movie than when he is out saving the world from some silly villains. I also think it was a perfect time to change the setting of a Herbie movie. The last two were in San Francisco where this one is set mostly in France. Also starring Julie Sommars as race driver Diane Darcy and Eric Braeden as the villainous race driver Bruno Von Stickle.