'Loaded' with entertainment for kids

Lindsay Lohan might be smeared across every tabloid in the country, but in "Herbie: Fully Loaded" you forget all about that. Lohan isn't the greatest actor in the world but for a movie where suspending your disbelief is so important (Herbie not only drives on his own but also drives atop cars going 200 mph), Lohan convinces. \nLohan plays Maggie Peyton, who just graduated from college. She's back home in L.A. for the summer and a skateboard is her only transportation. Maggie's graduation present from her father/team leader of Peyton Racing, Ray Peyton Sr. (Michael Keaton) is a trip to the salvage yard to pick out a car, the same yard where the once famous Volkswagen racecar named Herbie now sits. \nMaggie buys Herbie for $75 and soon realizes Herbie has a mind of his own. After Herbie, with Maggie behind the wheel, wins a street race against famous NASCAR racer Trip Murphy (Matt Dillon), Trip hosts a racing challenge to prove to the world that he won't be beat by a Volkswagen again. Maggie decides to race against her father's demand. With the help of her friend Kevin (Justin Long, "Dogdeball") Herbie is transformed back into the racecar he once was.\nThe story is actually entertaining. The movie's biggest strength is that it recognizes its audience. Kids will enjoy the film more than adults but that's what Disney is going for. And true to Disney form, life lessons are learned. Maggie learns to be honest and follow her heart. The racing world sees a woman take control behind the wheel. And her father learns to believe in her.\nAt some points the special effects seemed a little disjointed. Throughout the movie we mostly see general "facial" movements, such as the front bumper curving up for a smile and the headlights "blinking." But in other scenes Herbie becomes fully animated. The two cars look different from each other and it's a little freaky to watch a car make that much human movement. \nIn the final scenes of the movie, Maggie races Herbie for Peyton Racing in a real NASCAR race. Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart even appear in the movie to check out this little Volkswagen that could. \n"Herbie: Fully Loaded" isn't some award-worthy movie, but the slapstick humor and playful dialogue will entertain kids everywhere.