My family just got back from an advance screening at Mall of GA, sponsored by the Gwinnett Daily Post. (Saturday, 6/18/05-10:00am). In attendance: My wife & I (40 & 41 respectively), our ten-year-old daughter, and her ten-year-old friend. All four of us had a blast! The audience was completely into it. First time I've heard people clap *during* a film in a very long time.
Let's get one thing out of the way: if you're looking for realism: run the other way. This is a fantasy! But, like most good fantasies, it only asks you to suspend disbelief on a few points: Herbie has a mind of his own and can do outrageous things, including outrun a stock car. The biggest pill to swallow: NASCAR would let a VW Bug into a race!
It comes down to this: if you liked the coming attractions, you'll enjoy this movie. Obviously, this is not a film for the art-house set. Judge it for what it is: a summer popcorn flick the whole family can enjoy. I laughed myself sick at times, and even found some of the scenes where Herbie's in trouble to be quite moving.
Lindsay Lohan does a good job: not quite to the level of her Freaky Friday performance, but then again, this script doesn't give her as much to work with. Michael Keaton underplays the father nicely, and Matt Dillon chews a bit of scenery as Trip Murphy, the reigning NEXTEL Cup Champion. Most pleasant surprise: Justin Long (Warren from TV's "ED") does a great job in the role of Kevin, the dutiful love interest for Lohan's character. If you're a NASCAR fan, the driver cameos are a bonus.
Nitpicks: for the most part, you know this plot, and you know where the story's going at all times. Also, product placement tends to get out of hand, and the movie starts to feel like a NASCAR/ESPN/BassPro infomercial.
Bottom line: the movie delivers what the trailer promises. With decidedly little G-rated fare on the horizon this summer, this thing's gonna make a mint. And deservedly so.
Scott
Let's get one thing out of the way: if you're looking for realism: run the other way. This is a fantasy! But, like most good fantasies, it only asks you to suspend disbelief on a few points: Herbie has a mind of his own and can do outrageous things, including outrun a stock car. The biggest pill to swallow: NASCAR would let a VW Bug into a race!
It comes down to this: if you liked the coming attractions, you'll enjoy this movie. Obviously, this is not a film for the art-house set. Judge it for what it is: a summer popcorn flick the whole family can enjoy. I laughed myself sick at times, and even found some of the scenes where Herbie's in trouble to be quite moving.
Lindsay Lohan does a good job: not quite to the level of her Freaky Friday performance, but then again, this script doesn't give her as much to work with. Michael Keaton underplays the father nicely, and Matt Dillon chews a bit of scenery as Trip Murphy, the reigning NEXTEL Cup Champion. Most pleasant surprise: Justin Long (Warren from TV's "ED") does a great job in the role of Kevin, the dutiful love interest for Lohan's character. If you're a NASCAR fan, the driver cameos are a bonus.
Nitpicks: for the most part, you know this plot, and you know where the story's going at all times. Also, product placement tends to get out of hand, and the movie starts to feel like a NASCAR/ESPN/BassPro infomercial.
Bottom line: the movie delivers what the trailer promises. With decidedly little G-rated fare on the horizon this summer, this thing's gonna make a mint. And deservedly so.
Scott