Herbie Rides Again (1974)

Herbie Rides Again is the kind of family movie that feels like a warm Saturday matinee come to life: cheerful, sweet-natured, and just a little bit magical in the way it turns a simple underdog story into a citywide lark. Set against a storybook version of San Francisco, it pits an indomitable old lady and her beloved firehouse against a cartoonishly corrupt developer, with Herbie gleefully escalating the mischief until the comedy flirts with surprisingly surreal heights. Helen Hayes gives the film its heart, while the romance and slapstick land with an easy, painless charm that makes it genuinely pleasant for adults and pure delight for kids. If you need gritty realism, this isn’t your ride—but if you’re in the mood for inventive, good-clean fun with a mischievous streak, Herbie still has plenty of spark left in the engine.

Herbie Rides Again is aiming for a warm, kid-friendly underdog tale where a plucky old lady, a lovable sentient Beetle, and a few quirky allies stand up to a cartoonish developer. The problem is the comedy leans heavily on broad slapstick and big, muggy performances, so if you’re hoping for sharp writing or characters with much depth, it can feel noisy and a bit witless. The romance and “villain gets his comeuppance” beats are serviceable, but the whole thing plays like a lightweight TV sitcom stretched to feature length. Still, if you’re watching with young kids or you’re in the mood for gentle, old-school Disney charm and some harmless San Francisco antics, it’s an easy, inoffensive time.