The Love Bug

1997

1h 28m

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

141

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15 Images

Fantasy

Adventure

Comedy

Family

The inimitable VW Beetle is losing all his races and destined for the scrap heap until mechanic Hank takes him over and gives him a new lease of life. Soon, Herbie is winning again, to the fury of his previous owner, who builds a menacing black bug to challenge Herbie to the ultimate race.

Directors

Peyton Reed

Writers

Gordon Buford(writer by)

Bill Walsh(writer by)

Ryan Rowe(screenplay by)

Stars

Bruce Campbell

John Hannah

Ali Wentworth

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Videos1

Trailer
Watch Herbie The Love Bug 1997

Photos15

Top cast

Hank Cooper

Simon Moore III

Alex Davis

Roddy Martel

Rupert

Dr. Gustav Stumpfel

Donny Shotz

Clarence Williams III

Chuck

Dean Jones

Jim Douglas

Burton Gilliam

Mecanic Race Announcer

1st Mechanic

2nd Mechanic

Cocky Mechanic

Trendy Gal

Trendy Guy

Young Dr. Stumpfel

The General

Highway Patrolman

Directors

Peyton Reed

Writers

Gordon Buford(writer by)

Bill Walsh(writer by)

Ryan Rowe(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

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User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

_**TV budget but better story, plus the Dark Herbie (actually Horace) and Alexandra Wentworth**_ Herbie is apprehended by a new owner (Bruce Campbell) who is surprised that the unintimidating Volkswagen can win races and do amazing things. A malevolent rival (John Hannah), who initially mocked Herbie, now wants it and therefore hatches a scheme to use Herbie’s creator (Harold Gould) to create a new version of the magical car, but the results aren’t chippy. Kevin J. O'Connor plays the mechanic, Alexandra Wentworth a racing judge and Dana Gould the villain’s associate. "The Love Bug" (1997) is the fourth sequel to the original 1969 film and the fifth entry overall. It’s limited by a TV budget, which can mostly be observed in the studio sets/locations and lack of extras, but the script is more compelling to prior endeavors, with the possible exception of the previous one, “Herbie Goes Bananas” (1980), which I enjoyed more than the first three (even though most fans look down on it). Several highlights mark this one above the others: We learn how Herbie was created with a mind of its own (the explanations provided in the first two films were vague theories rather than concrete truths); there’s an unexpected death/resurrection subplot; Dean Jones returns as Jim Douglas, now 65 years-old during filming; there’s an Evil Herbie, called Horace; and Alexandra Wentworth is arguably the best female to be featured in the series up to this point, with Elyssa Davalos from the previous flick in close second (i.e. Melissa). The film runs 1 hour, 28 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles. GRADE: B

Wuchak13 Jul, 2020