Fully Loaded’ Is Lindsay Lohan’s Best Children’s Movie Ever

When we talk about Lindsay Lohan’s filmography, people often bring up Mean Girls, The Parent Trap, or Freaky Friday. Diehard Lilo fans might even bring up the underrated gem that is Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and still others might talk up Life Size. But hardly ever, in discussions about her body of work, do I hear someone bring up Herbie: Fully Loaded. And that is an injustice I am here to correct. 

Released in 2005, Herbie: Fully Loaded was a remake of the 1968 film, The Love Bug. The movie chronicles the life of Maggie Peyton, a recent college graduate who, due to financial strain, is forced to buy a beaten-up old Volkswagen. What she quickly discovers is that the car, named Herbie, thinks for itself, has feelings and can communicate (mostly with her, but it certainly has a way to show detractors what it thinks about them too). The two form a relationship and embark on an adventure on a Disney film can cook up.

Herbie: Fully Loaded has too star-studded of a cast to be this underrated. While no one will ever compare to Jamie Lee Curtis or Natasha Richardson in terms of costars, this film had some powerhouses working with Lohan: Michael Keaton played her father, Ray; Matt Dillon played her arch nemesis, Trip; Breckin Meyer played her brother, Ray Jr.; Justin Long played her love interest, Kevin; and Cheryl Hines played her stepmom.

The cast is a testament to the pull Lindsay Lohan had in the early aughts. Keaton, Dillon and Long were all leading men in their own right, so the fact that they would sign up for this heartwarming (and extremely wacky) children’s film tells us everything we need to know about the power of Lohan. It remains especially cemented in my heart given the fact that those three don’t frequent the big or small screens as often anymore. It’s a reminder of a simpler time, if you will.

When it comes to the actual film, several plot points stand out to me. 

Let’s start with Herbie, the car itself. I mean, what’s more Disney than an animatronic car? He schemes when he needs to, plays hilarious pranks on those who deserve it, pouts to get his way when necessary and even gets to flirt a little. Herbie is whimsical and an ton of fun and he gave “live action remake” before live action remakes became a major thing. One would say he is a trendsetter. 

Herbie’s first order of business after leaving the pound where he had been stashed was to play matchmaker for Maggie. Right after leaving the lot, the 1968 Volkswagen forcefully delivers Maggie to Kevin’s auto body shop. There were probably several mechanics Maggie could have turned to in order to fix the little Bug, but Herbie knew what needed to be done and orchestrated a meet-cute that wound up being one of the pillars of the movie. He is here for his girl and I love that for him. 

The one plot point that cracks me up the most while watching the film as an adult is the fact the story hinges on Trip’s beef with a 20-something-year-old. The whole thing starts with Herbie beating Trip in an impromptu, amateur race and Trip never lets that loss go.

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He is at least 40 years old — the same age as Maggie’s father — and a renowned race car driver, with a solid and well-established career, while Maggie just graduated college and is figuring out what she wants to do with her life. Still, that one small race bruises his ego so much that he spends the next few weeks drumming up schemes to take down Maggie and her little bug.

That man seriously needed a hobby!

Of course, it’s a Disney movie. We don’t walk away without a lesson. The film really is a David vs. Goliath story about a team of underdogs who band together to take down the big meanie. Not only does Herbie stick up for himself, but he also helps Maggie realize her full potential.

Through a series of very fantastical events, she finds herself as the top racer in a high-level race car competition, competing against people with way more experience than she has. Her car shaped pal clears the way for a victory and a love match. What could be better than that?

Though Herbie: Fully Loaded doesn’t get nearly as much recognition in pop culture lore as I think it deserves, for those of us who fell in love with that little Beetle car as kids, it remains a classic. In fact, you might be surprised to know that it’s actually part of a six-film franchise, so if Disney was looking for another LiLo movie to reprise after Freakier Friday, this would be a great place to start.