Ep. #27 - The Love Bug with SUPERFAN Alex Robertson

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Because you demanded it!! Disney's The Love Bug! 

This week on Fabulous Film and Friends we’re following our discussion about the violent and gruesome Braveheart with the equally violent and twisted 1968 Disney gutbuster, The Love Bug and starring Dean Jones, Michelle Lee, Buddy Hackett, David Tomlinson and Sacramento’s own Benson Fong. 

I’m joined by my good friend Gordon Alex Robertson today on this Superbowl weekend who would only do the show if we discussed this film, one of his childhood favorites. 

Before we hit the pedal to the medal:

The synopsis. 

A deep, philosophical exploration of man’s relationship to machine,  beating   Star Trek The Motion Picture to the punch by 10 years, The Love Bug tells the tale of Jim Douglas, a maverick race car driver on the cusp of middle age and relegated to demolition derbies who is given a second chance at life, love and happiness when he is randomly swindled into buying a living, thinking, self-driving 1963 VW Bug by the scheming Car Dealer cum throttle jockey Peter Thorndyke and his easy-on-the eyes sales assistant Carol Bennett. The scheme backfires for Thorndyke when Douglas and the VW, nicknamed Herbie  by Jim’s loyal roommate Tennessee Steinmetz, starts winning decisive contests at major raceways. 

Realizing the error of her ways and the duplicity of her horrible boss, Carol falls in with Jim and joins his team against Thorndyke who will stop at nothing to destroy Herbie. 

Is The Love Bug a forgettable late 60's Disney live action lark for kiddies? 

Or is it a more profound film than you'd expect?

Find out!