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Humiliated by his defeat, Trip arranges a rematch; and despite the fact that Trip's loss was broadcast all over the news, no one ever figures out that the Bug with the distinctive markings has what you might call a history of unusual victories. (All those headlines in the opening credits have apparently been forgotten by now.) Meanwhile, Ray forbids Maggie to race, so she lies to him and says she has been lending the car to a friend of hers; and Ray, despite never having met or heard of this friend before, believes her. The only person who knows Maggie's secret, and who quickly comes to share her belief in Herbie, is her mechanic and sort-of boyfriend Kevin (Justin Long, nicely amusing in a thankless role).

Herbie in the pits. And, unfortunately, this movie IS the pits

Maggie's family background is another of the film's half-baked contrivances. Ray, a former race car driver himself, forbids Maggie to race because his wife died some time ago and Maggie looks just like her and he doesn't want to lose his wife twice, or words to that effect. At this point, those who saw Racing Stripes—that's the one about the talking zebra who races against horses—may recall that the human-interest story in that film also concerned a safety-conscious widower and his more adventurous daughter. But while those actors almost redeemed their movie through the conviction they brought to their roles, Keaton and Lohan just go through the motions. Meanwhile, Maggie also has a brother (Breckin Meyer) who exists for no other purpose than to provide a loophole by which Maggie can enter herself and Herbie, against all odds, into a full-fledged NASCAR race.

Perhaps the strangest thing about Herbie: Fully Loaded is its reliance on pop and rock oldies by the likes of Boston, Loverboy, Van Halen, Lionel Richie, and/or the present-day artists who cover them. Hearing these tunes, one is reminded that Disney was never hip enough to use music like this back when it was brand new—presumably they can use such music now because it has been rendered safe by age—and one is also sobered by the realization that most of these songs, and all the Herbie movies too for that matter, came out well before Lohan had even been conceived. Full disclosure: the first movie I can remember seeing is Herbie Rides Again, and songs like "Jump" and "Hello" loom larger in my memories of high school than I care to admit. And pondering these things can sure make a guy feel old.

Talk About It

1. Why does Maggie lie to her father? What would you do in that situation if you were her? If you were him? Do you think his concerns are justified?
   
   
2. Does Herbie need Maggie, or any other driver for that matter? (Note the scene where Maggie says it felt like she and Herbie were "connected or something.") How does this reflect our own need for relationships? Why do you think a driver who had recognized Herbie's unique personality would get rid of him?
   
   
3. Why does Herbie foil Maggie's attempts to win another car, knowing what it might mean for his own future? Why do we sometimes try to hurt people even though it will mean hurting ourselves, too? Herbie is called a "proud" car. Is pride good? Bad? Both?
   
   
4. How does this film's portrayal of Herbie differ from that of the other films? How does the different portrayal—such as his more animated expressions, or the use of point-of-view shots—affect our response to him as a character? Is he more believable? Less?
   
   
5. Maggie tells one friend that she, too, had a hard time believing that Herbie was a person, but "then I embraced the mystery that is Herbie." In what way are the human beings you know "mysteries"? In what way is God a "mystery"? How do we "embrace" mysteries?
   
   

The Family Corner

Herbie: Fully Loaded is rated G and is fine for family viewing. The characters say a few "Oh my Gods," and a couple of them joke about the car being "possessed." Trip Murphy also alludes to his success with the ladies in a discrete way that will fly over most kids' heads.

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