Angela Robinson directed Herbie: Fully Loaded is a 2005 American family racing film, produced by Robert Simonds for Walt Disney Pictures. Lindsay Lohan plays the youngest member of an automobile-racing family, with Michael Keaton portraying her father, Matt Dillon playing a rival competitor, Breckin Meyer portraying her brother and Justin Long as a buddy and mechanic.
It was the first Herbie film to be released in theatres since Herbie Goes Bananas in 1980, and it was also the final Disney film to feature Lindsay Lohan. Many NASCAR drivers make cameo appearances in the film, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Mark Martin.
Lindsay Lohan won Favourite Female Actress for her work in this film at the 2005 Kids’ Choice Awards, and Herbie: Fully Loaded was also nominated for Favourite Movie but lost to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
In this article, we take you through where you can watch the film, what the story is about, and whether you should spend your time on it.
What Is The Film About?
Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan) aspires to be a NASCAR racer, but her overbearing and protective father, Ray Peyton Sr. (Michael Keaton), will not allow it. Ray, a former racer, wants Maggie to take a lucrative TV sportscasting position and let her accident-prone brother handle the driving (Breckin Meyer).
Maggie has no clue that the little Volkswagen Beetle she takes home, called Herbie, will change her life when Ray Sr. takes her to a junkyard to pick out a car. With familial complexity, disguise and hidden identities, local racing competitions to lure in competition, and ultimately races that end in victory, Herbie: Fully Loaded has all the elements of an entertaining children’s movie. The cast does a wonderful job at portraying their roles and the plot is equally compelling!
Where Can We Watch The Film?
For VPN users, the film will be available on HBO Max and Amazon Prime. For those who don’t like to dabble in the VPN route, the film is available on Hotstar, Youtube, and Google Play Movies & TV.
Critic Speaks
Herbie: Fully Loaded may not be a cinematic masterpiece heralded for its impeccable screenplay and cinematography, but that does not take away one bit from the fact that it is very compelling and heartwarming family watch. Maggie is a great role model for kids- and to have Herbie alongside them, is bound to become every kid’s dream!
At parts, we do wish the film had been edited a little better. However, that does not seem to hinder the children who watch the film in the slightest. Great to calm your children down over dinner, or keep their attention through a watch party, Herbie: Fully Loaded deserves to reach your child’s fancy at least once.
So, Should We Watch It Or Skip It?
We say, watch it! Don’t expect a masterful cinematic experience- instead, find your inner children and dive into this fun and engaging film for an entertaining and enjoyable experience!
