Review of The Love Bug (1968) by Rob C — 08 Nov 2015

With great stunts, a perfect cast and fabulous location and arial photography in the High Sierras, The Love Bug is one of the best post Mary Poppins Family films the Disney studio ever put out. It's central character is Herbie, a volkswagen beetle with special powers that gives back confidence to a luckless race car driver named Jim Douglas played by Disney regular Dean Jones.. Michelle Lee ok as Jim's love interest, but two Disney veterans David Tomlinson and Joe Flynn really shine as the villainous Peter Thorndike and his right hand man Havershaw.

The real show stealer here though is Buddy Hackett as mechanic Tenessee Steinmetz, who gives a hilarious monologue about how he got to where he is in the film.

Disney spared no expense on this film..the special effects are quite good for 1968 and the process shots don't look cheap. There are a few studio shots posing as the outdoors, but there is more than enough location footage to make up for that. The only quibble I have with the production is that there is a stock sound effect of race cars that is looped over and over again on the soundtrack and that becomes tedious.

Veteran announcers Chick Hearn and Gary Owens appear as TV reporters covering the final race,which adds to the credibility and fun. There are a few sections that some may find offensive in these PC times, but they are few and lighthearted.

I would Highly recommend this film,especially after a hard day.