Watch The Love Bug

"The Love Bug" is a classic 1968 family comedy film about a struggling race car driver named Jim Douglas (played by Dean Jones) who stumbles upon a run-down Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own. The quirky car, which he affectionately names Herbie, becomes his lucky charm and leads him to success on the race track. But things get complicated when a rival driver and Herbie's former owner try to sabotage Jim and Herbie's winning streak.

The film opens with Jim Douglas, once a successful race car driver, now down on his luck and struggling to make ends meet. He's also struggling to find success on the race track, but that all changes when he stumbles upon an old, beat-up 1963 Volkswagen Beetle at a written-off car lot. On a whim, he purchases the car and takes it to his friend and mechanic, Tennessee Steinmetz (played by Buddy Hackett), to restore it.

But there's something special about this Beetle that sets it apart from all the others: It seems to have a mind of its own. Jim can't explain it, but Herbie seems to have a personality, responding to Jim's commands and even showing signs of jealousy when other people try to drive him.

Jim quickly discovers that driving Herbie is a one-of-a-kind experience. With Herbie at his side, Jim begins winning races and gaining newfound fame and fortune. But Jim's newfound success attracts the attention of a rival driver, Trip Murphy (played by David Tomlinson), who will stop at nothing to make sure Jim loses. And then there's also Herbie's former owner, a sleazy car dealer named Peter Thorndyke (played by David Tomlinson), who wants Herbie back at any cost.

As Jim and Herbie continue to rack up the wins, the car's personality becomes more and more pronounced. Jim watches as Herbie falls in love with another Beetle, named Giselle, in a twist that seems completely ridiculous but somehow fits perfectly into the wacky tone of the film. Through all the ups and downs, Jim and Herbie develop a deep bond that seems unbreakable – until a final, dramatic showdown at the end of the film.

Overall, "The Love Bug" is an enjoyable family comedy that's sure to put a smile on your face. It features charming performances from its lead actors, particularly Dean Jones as the affable and charming Jim, and the always-funny Buddy Hackett as the eccentric Tennessee. The real star of the show, of course, is the titular Volkswagen Beetle, which is imbued with so much personality and charm that it's hard not to fall in love with it. The racing scenes are exciting and well-choreographed, and the filmmakers do a great job of making us root for Jim and Herbie to triumph against their enemies.

Despite its age, "The Love Bug" has aged well and remains a timeless classic. It's easy to see why it was such a big hit upon its release in 1968 and why it spawned several sequels and spin-offs in the years that followed. If you're looking for a fun, lighthearted family film that will make you smile from start to finish, "The Love Bug" is definitely worth a watch.

The Love Bug is a 1968 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 48.