- Title: Herbie Fully Loaded
- IMDb: link
It’s hard to believe Disney’s last big-screen attempt to cash-in on the Herbie franchise was 21 years ago. 2005’s Herbie Fully Loaded is legal to drink in all 50 states. Going back to basics, but also going with a younger driver, Herbie Fully Loaded stars Lindsay Lohan as former street racer, and recent college graduate, who is the youngest member of a racing family currently struggling to make ends meet.
Gifted the car as a graduation present by her largely clueless father (Michael Keaton), Maggie, through a bit of ego and regular Herbie shenanigans, begins street racing again with the VW Bug. Herbie Fully Loaded offers Matt Dillon as the evil rival driver whose bet with Maggie nearly destroys Herbie at one point in the film, Justin Long as Maggie’s old friend and mechanic (and potential love interest), and Breckin Meyer as Maggie’s less-talented brother. The film also throws in Cheryl Hines whose car Herbie crushes on and Jimmi Simpson in a supporting role as our villain’s top henchman.
Neither the best nor worst of the franchise, and definitely still geared towards younger audiences, along with anyone nostalgic to revisit Herbie in their adulthood, Lohan is by far the best thing about the movie with Herbie himself being a close second. Despite being financially successful, the film didn’t lead to Disney perusing the franchise any further (or since).
