Director: Robert Stevenson

Cast: Dean Jones (Jim Douglas), Michele Lee (Carole Bennett), David Tomlinson (Peter Thorndyke), Buddy Hackett (Tennessee Steinmetz), Joe Flynn (Havershaw), Benson Fong (Mr. Wu)

The film starts off strongly, and its energetic comic pace works very well for the first hour or so. Co-stars Michele Lee, David Tomlinson (Mr. Banks from Mary Poppins), and Hackett all bring charm and breathe personality into their roles. As straight man, Jones does fine in his lead role, a position he got right again and again for Disney.

Nonetheless, The Love Bug proved to be hugely successful at the box office, becoming the top-grossing film of the year, even outperforming films like Butch Cassidy and Midnight Cowboy. In the thirty-four years since its release, three sequels, a TV series, and a Wonderful World of Disney telemovie remake have come, so a DVD has seemed long overdue.

1.75:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Dolby Surround 5.1 (English)
Subtitles: English
Release Date: May 20, 2003
Two single-sided, dual-layered disc (DVD-9)
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
White double Alpha keepcase, no insert

Video quality is good, but not flawless. The film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.75:1, enhanced for 16:9 televisions. A number of the shots in the film are inherently grainy, and contrast to the simpler, clearer-looking shots. Of course, the grain is part of the original film, so trying to even out the contrasting shots wouldn't necessarily have a point. In addition, there are some artifcats and print imperfections that pop up from time to time. Overall, video quality isn't as breathtaking as last year's Vault Disney titles, and those were older films.

Nonetheless, this is undoubtedly the best The Love Bug has looked on home video, and it looks rather good for its age, certainly better than most of Disney's catalogue output.

As is the case with last year's Vault Disney titles, The Love Bug receives a 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track, although it's doesn't provide a particularly dynamic aural experience. It does deliver a consistent, clear, and suitable soundtrack for the film, though, and the catchy theme tune comes through loud and clear.

Even though the set is labeled as a Special Edition, make no mistake about it. The Love Bug is a Vault Disney title, identical in design to May 2002's four releases. The same elaborate menu design still proclaims "Vault Disney."

Disc One contains an audio commentary with starts Dean Jones, Michele Lee, and Buddy Hackett, and the 8-minute short "Susie - The Little Blue Coupe" (which can also be found on the Ichabod and Mr. Toad DVD.) Plus one sneak peek for a random selection of live action catalogue titles which have mostly been butchered for DVD release like Natty Gann and Muppet Treasure Island.

Less spectacular is "The Many Lives of Herbie," a 13-minute featurette hosted by one of the weak speakers from the documentary - Hugh Chitwood, "Herbie fan" (who's on the Disney payroll as a film archivist, according to his documentary credit). This individual's enthusiasm for all things Love Bug is ridiculous, irritating, and depressing all at once. Hearing him passionately discuss the specifics of the sequels ("the first evil Herbie", for instance) and his own Herbie passion (his closing statement!) is amusing, certainly.

The Disney Studio Album recalls the year 1969, covering all of the studio's projects from that year, and running just under 4 minutes.

Mr. Chitwood again appears in the Lost Treasure: Searching for Herbie (7:38), this time discussing his knowledge of the actual cars used in the Herbie movies, going into far more detail than you'll probably care, but it's short.

The two final galleries are Production Documents (paperwork from the film's production) and a Screenplay Excerpt ("Herbie Goes Over the Edge") with accompanying film clip.

"Love Bug Day at Disneyland" is a 12-minute un-narrated featurette on March 23, 1969 when hundreds of Volkswagens from all over made their way to the park in decorated fashion. Some are really creatively-designed and it's quite fun seeing the people of the '60s really getting into the spirit of things ten days after the film's opening and a few months before the "Summer of Love" would bring Woodstock and the Amazin' Mets.

Two deleted "scenes" are included: "Used Car Lot" is a brief combination of a script excerpt and production still from an excised scene and "Playground" provides storyboards and script excerpt from a closing sequence which was never shot. Together, they run 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

The hours of supplemental content ranges in quality, and would benefit from more of the charismatic trio of stars and less of over-enthusiastic Mr. Chitwood, but there's lots of great stuff to check out, such as the fantastic documentary and the Production Archives, overflowing with goodies like "Love Bug Day at Disneyland."

Fans of this film should be very pleased with this 2-disc presentation and those who haven't seen it are encouraged to check it out. I can only hope that my favorite live action films of the '80s and '90s will one day receive glorious treatment like this, covering all aspects of production and presenting the films in first-rate quality and the right aspect ratio.