Film Review: Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)

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(source: tmdb.org)

Volkswagen Beetle is the most popular car ever made. In 1968 its iconic status was recognised by Disney and used in The Love Bug, a film that introduced the character of “Herbie”, a VW Beetle with a mind of its own. Although not much liked by critics, the film was popular among children and a younger audience and spawned an equally popular series. Dean Jones, who had played driver Jim Douglas in The Love Bug, returned in the same role in the third film, the 1977 action comedy Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.

In this film Jim Douglas brings “Herbie” and his mechanic Wheely Applegate (played by Don Knotts) to Europe, where they are to end their retirement and compete in the Trans-France-Rally, driving from Paris to Monte Carlo. Their plans become complicated with the presence of Bruno Von Stickle (played by Eric Braeden), an arrogant German racing driver. Further complications arise when Douglas meets Diane Darcy (played by Julie Sommars), a feminist-minded female racer whose car, a Lancia Scorpion nicknamed “Giselle”, becomes the object of romantic affection by “Herbie”. The biggest problem for Douglas, however, comes in the form of two thieves who, working for a mysterious “Double X”, stole a precious diamond from a Paris museum and hid it in Herbie’s gas tank.

The VW Beetle is a truly international car, so it was natural that at least one of the Love Bug films had an international flavour. Directed by Disney veteran Vincent McEveety and partly shot on authentic French locations, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo features a diverse and mostly talented cast, but the end result is of varying quality. Intended primarily for younger audiences, the film relies heavily on slapstick and some simple but effective special effects, but some of the jokes are overused, while some of the characters look too cartoonish. While Jones and Sommars do a decent job, they lack chemistry together. Don Knotts overacts in his role as comic relief, as do British comedic veterans Bernard Fox and Roy Kinnear as bumbling thieves. Character actor Jacques Marin is solid as Inspector Bouchet, while Xavier Saint-Macary turns his performance into a bad Peter Sellers impersonation in the role of his over-enthusiastic subordinate. Although slightly overlong and flawed in many aspects, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo is nevertheless entertaining enough to be recommended for fans of light Disney entertainment and viewers who feel some nostalgia for the 1970s.

RATING: 5/10 (++)