Well, that's really all that matters, isn't it.My 3 yr old over here in Norway in 2011 is a Herbie devotee - there were a bunch of Herbies ... under irrelevant Norwegian titles ... on sale in a supermarket bin - and he loves all 4 of the theater films.And I like the characters of this one, especially Ken Berry's. He comes to Uncle Alonzo wanting to believe in him and join him and then has his eyes opened, while falling in love with Mrs. Steinmetz's granddaughter - Tennessee's daughter?? Look at the expressions on Berry's face. WELL done. And Stephanie Powers' violent young woman is in another of the series: Julie Sommers in Herbie goes to Monte Carlo, for example. PMS, anyone? :-) When he wants to see this one, my little Rohan says he wants to see "Uncle" (Alonzo).

Years ago, I saw Herbie Rides Again at a drive-in with my parents and recently I saw the movie for the first time in years when it aired on TCM. After more than 35 years from its original release, Herbie Rides Agam is a solid sequel to The Love Bug. The cast was outstanding, including Keenan Wynn reprising his role as ruthless real estate baron Alonzo Hawk, Helen Hayes as Mrs. Steinmetz, Ken Berry as Hawks nephew Willoughby and Stefanie Powers as Nicole. But the real star of the show was Herbie, the Volkswagen. No. 53 was back in action in his help to save Mrs. Steinmetz's firehouse from destruction by Hawk for a new skyscraper. The car with a mind of its own was aided by outstanding special effects. My favorite scene was near the end when Herbie and a fleet of Volkswagens teamed up to save the firehouse from being razed. I also liked the scenes of San Francisco, especially Fisherman's Wharf. Who would have thought that the movie's success would lead to two more sequels in the 70s and a recent update with Lindsey Lohan? Rev it up and rent it.

The looong opening sequence of buildings being demolished, followed by a looong sequence of a corporate meeting, should have clued me in that this entry would have little charm that was in the original. (Phantom Menace, anyone? Trade disputes are always so exciting.) I hadn't seen it since it first came out, and only recalled a few things from it. Whereas The Love Bug kicks things into gear from the get-go, this thing drags on interminably. Herbie shows little personality in this one, and is merely a vehicle for bad process-shot special effects. (Most of the ones in the original were done practically, i.e. live.) The original characters Jim and Tennessee are disposed of with throw-away lines. I find it hard to believe that Jim would "go off to Europe to race foreign cars" (and leave Herbie?) when it was practically the entire premise of The Love Bug that Herbie was just as good, and better, than any of them.It may be "good for kids" but a good movie can get adults to enjoy it just as much.

OK, first of all the only reason why I gave this a 6 out of 10 is simply because Herbie is in...other than that...I don't know why this movie was made. The ending is ridiculous, where 1,000's of herbie's all "team up" for the poor old firehouse. First of all, that totally goes against the story line of Herbie being unique...HELLO!!! It touched on this in 'The Love Bug' in the the horrible TV "remake" in 97' they clarified it. Anyway, Herbie needs to stick to racing! I mean 'Herbie goes bananas" was a stretch but it was still OK, i say OK because they pulled it off decently, but 'the love bug' and 'herbie goes to monte carlo' are by far the best in the series....the worst 'the love bug: 97' TV remake, then Herbie rides again" and i suppose herbie goes bananas is in between...and we'll see where fully loaded goes...so in order1) The Love Bug 2) Herbie goes to Monte Carlo 3) Herbie Goes Bananas 4) Herbie Rides Again 5) The Love Bug (97 TV remake) N/A Herbie: Fully Loaded (we'll see where it goes)