Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo

Dir: Vincent McEveety

1977

***

Herbie Strikes Again was always a childhood favorite but there was as something missing from the first film. Buddy Hackett. Apart from Buddy Hackett, the big thing missing, from a story about a little racing car, was a car race. Thankfully, Vincent McEveety's Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo understood this and entered the little Volkswagen Beetle into the famous Monte Carlo Rally, or a slightly made-up version of it at least. Herbie's original owner Jim Douglas (played once more by Dean Jones) returns to the franchise, this time with good friend, and Buddy Hackett substitute, Wheely Applegate played by Don Knotts. Now I love my Buddy Hackett but Don Knotts was pleasing replacement. The three of them compete against various pesky European stereotypes and a woman driver (Diane Darcy - played by Julie Sommars), who obviously doesn't win but falls in love with Jim. Rather bizarrely, Herbie also falls in love, with Diane Darcy's powder-blue 1976 Lancia Scorpion (with sexy yellow and white stripes). The Lancia also seems to possess consciousness as the two cars declare affection for each other by holding doors with one another. Makes you wonder whether Herbie is all that special after all, as nearly every car seems to have the gift of life but when Herbie and friends are responsible for the destruction of so many other cars, it makes you wonder if you're cheering on the right team. Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo doesn't do anything wrong as such but it doesn't quite have the same charm as the two previous outings. The inclusion of the great Roy Kinnear and Bernard Fox as a couple of jewel thieves is a plus but I can't help but think some of the plot was lifted right out of the script of one of my all-time favourite films, made eight years prior, Monte Carlo or Bust! (or Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies as it was known in America). However, I could watch the Herbie films all day (well, the original ones anyway) and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo ticks all the right boxes.