Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo

"Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" is the third film of the Herbie quadrilogy of the '60s, '70s, and '80s, and in it, Dean Jones ("The Shaggy D.A."), Herbie's driver/owner from "The Love Bug", returns after a one film hiatus to once again take the wheel. He is joined by Don Knotts ("The Andy Griffith Show"), who replaces Buddy Hackett ("The Love Bug") as Herbie's mechanic. "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" opens up with Herbie, Jim Douglas (Jones), and Wheely Applegate (Knotts) arriving in Paris for the Monte Carlo Rally, a road race. And not too long after their arrival, chaos ensues in the wake of a jewelry heist, the booty (diamonds) of which is hidden by the thieves in Herbie's gas tank in a pinch. That sets up those same thieves' bungling attempts to retrieve the diamonds as one of three main storylines that makeup the film. The others are, of course, the race itself, and a budding romance between Herbie and another car also entered in the race. Sparks also fly between Jim (whose wife from "The Love Bug" has conveniently vanished without any explanation) and the other car's driver, Diane Darcy (Julie Sommars ["Matlock"]).

The Herbie films always do better when there's a race involved, and not just a series of high jinks, "Monte Carlo" being no exception. The race sequences are fun. Don Knotts is, as usual, a hoot. And Herbie's Herbie, feisty as ever, and love struck to boot. And so, I have to say overall, I enjoyed "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo". It's fine entertainment for the entire family (circa 1965).