Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo

Name: Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Family
Released: June 24, 1977
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Alan Caillou, Bernard Fox, Dean Jones, Don Knotts, Eric Braeden

1977

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Distribution Company | Release Date: June 24, 1977 | G

Starring: Alan Caillou, Bernard Fox, Dean Jones, Don Knotts, Eric Braeden, François Lalande, Jacques Marin, Julie Sommars, Roy Kinnear, Xavier Saint-Macary

Summary: Herbie, the Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own, is racing in the Monte Carlo Rally. Unbeknownst to Herbie's driver, thieves have hidden a cache of stolen diamonds in Herbie's gas tank, and are now trying to get them back.

Director: Vincent McEveety

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff (Not Credited)

Together again, Jones finds once more he is at the mercy of Herbie, who time and again takes matters into his own hands for often slapstick and mirthful effect as they roar toward their destination. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

McEveety can't match Stevenson's sense of comic timing and handling of slapstick humor, but he still manages to make HERBIE GOES TO MONTE CARLO an entertaining children's film. Read full review

Lawrence Van Gelder

Special effects in which the actors appear repeatedly in black outline and occasionally distorted perspective; and an assortment of tricks (rearing up on hind wheels, blushing and blinking his lights) that possesses a somewhat limited power to captivate...Reluctant adults marched off to "Herbie" by tiny press gangs may take what consolation they can from the scenery, featuring France and Monaco.

Gary Arnold

Since I had been fortunate enough to miss or avoid the earlier installments, "The Love Bug" and "Herbie Rides Again," the latest entry in the Disney studio's cycle of farces about the exploits of a sentient, racy Volkswagen, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, came as a more stupefying shock than it probably should have. As excruciating kiddie vehicles go, a Herbie is certainly more diverting than a Benji, but comparison at this level smack of sheer desperation. [27 July 1977, p.B7]

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Kai82

Nov 8, 2021

I am a huge fan of Herbie as the first 2 movies were childhood favorites. This one I do not like that much. I know it sounds hilarious to say this in a comedy movie about a VW Beetle that is alive but it is to silly and goofy especially at the start. The other movies hit the right spots andI am a huge fan of Herbie as the first 2 movies were childhood favorites. This one I do not like that much. I know it sounds hilarious to say this in a comedy movie about a VW Beetle that is alive but it is to silly and goofy especially at the start. The other movies hit the right spots and never make it this awkward. They build it up better and with more charm. To be fair it gets a lot better towards the end. On paper it has an amazing story and the characters work well enough to be enjoyable. The story brings back Jim Douglas from the first movie. Together with his mechanic Wheely Applegate and Herbie he travels to Europe to participate in a trans France race (Paris to Monte Carlo if I remember correctly). It is a comeback attempt as he had not participate in car races for years. Meanwhile there is an exhibition I a nearby museum. The famous diamond “Etoile de Joie” is displayed which caught the attention of thieves and Herbie will be involved by accident. This is not the only problem as Herbie will fall in love with a Lancia Scorpion driven by Diane Darcy. This is the set up for the movie. On paper it is an excellent story and it gets good towards the end. The beginning is a bit awkward and made me skip forward. It has not the right amount of fun and goofiness for the franchise. I put this on the script as the characters aka actors work really well. Lets start with Dean Jones as Jim Douglas who returns to the franchise. He is a bit weaker than in the first movie but is fine for me. As a sidenote: I am amazed that Herbie accepts him as in the second movie they said he abandoned Herbie and was unsuccessful at car races because of this. Back to the review. Don Knotts as Wheely Applegate is truly good but I miss Buddy Hackett as Tenessee Steinmetz too. Wished he returned but because of the good performance I cant complain. Then we have the two thieves Quincey and Max played by Roy Kinnear and Bernard Fox. I liked both characters as they are entertaining and work well together. This is also valid for Jaques Martin as Inspector Bouchet and his subordinate Detective Fontenoy played by Xavier Saint Marcary. Then we have Julie Sommars as Diane Darcy. I like her performance but her role is not that well written. The rest works fine and I will praise Eric Braeden who manage with small screen time to be an enjoyable bad rival for Jim and Herbie at the race. It is a good cast weakened by the script. The rest of the movie is fine. The racing scenes are good but as it was common at this time you see easily the use of special effects in the background in some scenes. Not a reason to rate it lower for me but fair to mention as other find this much harder to forgive. Overall this movie works well enough in the second half to avoid a lower rating. However the first half is weak and like I said I skipped forward a lot. The characters also safe this movie for me. I think a 5/10 is fair here. As a fan of the franchise I am a bit biased so take this with a warning. Others have given much lower ratings.… Expand

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