Why were the Herbie movies such big hits?

[DodgerGirl]

Growing up my aunt LOVED The Love Bug and every time it came on my aunt would giggle along with my mom and I never knew why the Herbie series of movies were huge hits? Is it because Herbie is such a fun character even though he's a car with antics? Or is it because Disney was branching out into having more comedy hits? Every time my mom and I see The Love Bug it makes me laugh and giggle. I also found it shocking that Disney made Herbie Fully Loaded with Lindsay Lohan and I wonder if that movie was gonna be the start of new Herbie movies for a new generation?

 

[Kennywood]

"The little car", as Herbie was known in the first movie, was a "character" in and of itself. But the reason the movies are so good is because of the quality of actors that were in the movies. The acting then was so much better than today.

The first movie had Dean Jones, Michelle Lee, David Tomlinson, Buddy Hackett, Joe Flynn, and Benson Fong. The second movie had the "First Lady of American Theatre" Helen Hayes.

Herbie Fully Loaded? It had Lindsay Lohan. Yes, I realize that Disney was trying to reach the then-current market. But, c'mon......Lindsay Lohan? The actors in the original movies forgot more about acting than Lindsay Lohan will ever learn.

The original movies were emotional rollercoasters. Herbie Fully Loaded was simply a fun, popcorn movie.

 

[kbelle8995]

They were cute and fun. Nothing too serious

 

[Dead2009]

Who doesnt love Herbie??

 

[old lady]

People went to see them and they made money for the company.

 

[GAN]

You do realize Herbie is a distant relative of Lightning McQueen.....

 

[RamblingMad]

I liked them as a kid. Back then you'd see how many people can get into one of those bugs.