by Ailran

Created on: March 05, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Every so often there comes along a family film that can appeal to adults as much as the kids it is aimed at, Shrek being a prime example of this. Herbie though isn't one of those, at least on face value it isn't, it is an out an out kids film where every clich is taken and thrown into the mix. We have the overprotective father, the rebel daughter, the friend who wishes he was more than that and the hilariously over the top villain that kids just love to see in films.

Although it is purely for kids it is strangely enjoyable, it brings out that big kid that is lurking inside you, or maybe not lurking in my case! It reminds you of films you saw in your own youth, something that most modern kids films just don't do for me. It reminds me so much of those mid 70's Disney films that were made purely for the kids and didn't talk down to them. Obviously with no kids of my own I don't really know what the modern day kids think of this but I can see any kids up to teenagers just lapping up everything in this film and the teenagers seeing similarities in the father/daughter relationship of the main characters.

I'm sure a lot of you reading this know who Herbie is, through the original films, whether on TV or in the cinema. Just in case there is anyone who do not know who he is (and presumably Disney know a lot of kids will not) there is a summary of his career during the pre credit sequence, using clips form the previous films and then following the down swing in his career after the last film up to the current day.

Herbie is a White Volkswagen bug that has his own personality and has control over his own parts. He is a sentient car for want of a better description; he is fun, cheeky, has his own mind and wants to race more than anything else.
When we first see Herbie he is in a scrapyard, waiting to be crushed, his proud heritage consigned to the memories of very old racing fans. Only Nascar racer Ray Peyton sr (Michael Keaton) and his daughter Maggie (Lindsay Lohan) are likely to save him from destruction. She wants a car for her new job up in New York but will she choose Herbie? Well with a bit of persuasion from Herbie herself of course she does, where would the film go if she didn't, and so begins her new adventures in the car can drive itself.

Her attempts to get her' car working properly, to get some respect from her dad
And to find a way to getting into racing (something her father forbids) make for a simple story with absolutely no depth to it at all, but then

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