Ein Käfer gibt Vollgas

It is a paradoxical situation when one finds a comedy, thats so bad it's actually funny. It requires a lot of laughing in the "wrong places".

Although surely not intended, Ein Käfer gibt Vollgas almost works as a parody of the films it tries to rip off: Disney's Love Bug and it's sequels.

Any sense, plot or genuine intentional hilarity this one has not, but it is somewhat redeemed by the unimitable groovy seventies feel. It sort of reminded me of the seventies Reeperbahn- films in techniques of storytelling, but where the Reeperbahn films had plot just to connect softcore sex scenes together, this one is all bad.

Released on video in Finland in the early eighties.

SUPERBUG--SECRET AGENT is, I believe, the second of five films in this German SUPERBUG series, which is a takeoff on the HERBIE films of Disney, but which foreshadows KNIGHT RIDER in many ways. The English-dubbed version of this film is what I saw, and it is dubbed in a cartoon-like way that is in keeping with the cartoon-like feel of the film. In fact, on the level of being a "spy" film, this plays out a lot like a Scooby-Doo cartoon, but with live actors and real locations (Portugal, quite lovely and well-filmed!). There is much Stooges/Bowery Boys-style slapstick, and even the usually suave Joachim Fuchsberger (star of many fine Edgar Wallace thrillers in the 60s) finds himself mugging as if he's in an Edgar Kennedy comedy short. Superbug's owner, Jimmy Bondi (played by Robert Mark, who also directed and wrote the film under his real name), is a laid-back unshaven fellow with a cowboy hat, making him a relatively "safe" hero for a children's film. As another comment stated, this film is also quite reminiscent of the Terence Hill-Bud Spencer comedies of the 70s and 80s, with sound effects in the fight scenes and quirky semi-lounge music that immediately cries "foreign" to an American audience. Overall, I found this film quite entertaining as an adult...if you like lowbrow comedy and nice Portuguese locations. Think "a live action Scooby-Doo made in Germany, entertainingly dubbed in English" and you should have a good idea what SUPERBUG--SECRET AGENT has to offer.

I can't say I understood this film much, other than it was an odd German takeoff on Herbie. Dodo, the protagonist car, flew, went across water like a boat and did other stuff at the request of his owner, Jimmy Bondi. There was a plot about counterfeiters, I think, and Bondi wanted to avoid this girl who was hot for him.

The scene that sticks out in my mind is Dodo fighting off attackers with car hood and doors, while flashing what I'm sure are German insults on his computer screen.

The direct sequel of "Ein Käfer geht aufs Ganze", which took place in Africa. "Ein Käfer gibt Vollgas" begins with Dudu's (Jimmy Bondie's computer-bug) arrival at the Algarve having swam from Dar-es-Salaam to south Portugal. There Bondie accidentally meets with Plato, some kind of an secret international cop, fighting some bad guys. Dudu, who's programmed to fight back when he's insulted, beats all the villains.

Bondie is in this film a member of "General Service", an underground foundation which accepts any mission which does not violate the law. Bondie, his team (Maggie and Cyril) and of course Dudu help Plato to fight the Gangster-Boss Senor Marchese de la Sota and his men, who are searching for the missing hallmark stamp to produce fake money.

The film is full of action and cheap but astonishing special effects and has a cool story with many German popular actors of the 70ies. E.g. Joachim Fuchsberger (Plato) who was a famous show-master in Germany and actor of most Edgar Wallace detective movies. Also Heidi Hansen (Tamara)who was known by every German in the 70ies, because she always acted in German 70ies music hit films.

The soundtrack of the movie is groovy and the punch-sound effects are like those from the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill films! I'm surprised that this typical German movie was shown in other countries, too. I recognize that it is considered as trash by not-Germans, because it is trash!!!! But good trash!!!!

No pun intended - this is not classical German cinema ... this is not a movie that you can hold up to high standards ... this however is a movie that will or rather might work for (young) kids! Taking the Herbie formula (which funnily enough like the Chucky franchise, did not start off calling itself Herbie, but rather Love Bug - kinda lovely I reckon) and mixing it with a bit of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies.

No real danger - from criminals that are so low IQ, you wonder how they are even able to exist. But they are here to make the kids laugh ... and maybe you if you have fond memories of watching this when you were little. Very silly to say the least, but I know the humor worked for me as kid.

Again suspend your disbelief, go on a ride with Dudu, who had quite a few upgrades (I wonder if James Bonds Q had any influence here) ... and you get quite the mixture of so many movies, it is hard to tell them all apart. Add a really good actor (Fuchsberger) and a hot blonde (for the "older" male audience) ... and you have a winning formula ... well at least not a losing one.

This is the second of the series and probably the best - at least it feels like it to me - but suspension of disbelief is quite necessary ...