Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo

Dean Jones returns and takes Herbie to France, along with mechanic Don Knotts

Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) and his new mechanic (Don Knotts) take Herbie to France to compete in the Monte Carlo Rally where Herbie falls for the car of a female racer (Julie Sommars). Meanwhile thieves steal a valuable diamond and hide it in Herbies gas tank.

"Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" (1977) brings back Dean Jones minus Michele Lee and Buddy Hackett, but Sommars and Knotts are fine in the corresponding roles. I like the switch to Europe, which is very scenic, but the way the fantasy elements are handled is lousy. This is easily my least favorite of the series.

The best ones for me are Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), The Love Bug (1997) and ...

Dean Jones ("Jim") returns to the driving seat for this third instalment of the adventures of "Herbie" and though more akin to the daftness of the first story, this is a bit of struggle to wade through. After twelve years since their last race, they return to take part in the world renowned Monte Carlo Rally. What they don't know, though, is that "Quincey" (Roy Kinnear) and his mate "Max" (Bernard Fox) have stashed some gems in the gas tank. Obviously, they are going to stop at nothing to get them back. To further complicate matters, "Herbie" has taken a bit of a shine to the car driven by "Diane" (Julie Sommars) just as "Jim" has fallen for her - with neither of them exactly hitting it off. Can they thwart the jewel thieves and find true l...