The Transformers film franchise first started back in 2007 with the first film, simply titled Transformers. Since then, the series has seen four other sequels. With each new sequel, the franchise was slowly bogged down with incessant advertisements, juvenile humor, lazy writing, and it leaned too heavily on the special effects budget. The sixth film in the Transformers franchise, Bumblebee, resets the timeline and reboots things. Instead of simply being a high-budget action movie, Bumblebee mixes true heart and charm, witty humor, and some excellent Transformers action. It rises above most of the other Transformers movies, and the tone feels more in line with what fans truly want. It’s a flawed movie in some key areas, but generally speaking, Bumblebee is one of 2018’s most surprising successes.
Back to Earth
Like the original Transformers film, Bumblebee follows the story of a young teenager who is a bit of a misfit. Set in 1987, Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), finds herself in the middle of a robot war after procuring a yellow Beetle car. Unbeknownst to her, the aged and busted up car is actually an Autobot Transformer named Bumblebee. Bumblebee has crash-landed on Earth after escaping his homeworld of Cybertron, where the Autobot and Decepticon Transformers wage war on each other. Unfortunately, Bumblebee isn’t alone on his trip to Earth, as two powerful and violent Decepticons follow him closely. Even worse, Bumblebee has managed to anger the United States military upon arrival. Led by Special Agent Burns (John Cena), the military attempt to find Bumblebee as well.
Overall, the story of Bumblebee manages to succeed as both a drama and an action film, with a surprising amount of heart. Hailee Steinfeld performs admirably as Charlie. Moreso than any other Transformers protagonists, Charlie feels like a relatable and empathetic character. She’s at an uncomfortable part of her life; failing to fit in at home and dealing with the tragic loss of her father, she feels more like an outcast than anything else. She spends her days working on a car in her father’s old garage, slowly becoming a proficient mechanic. There are various side characters that are serviceable, but the biggest standout is Steinfeld for sure. John Cena attempts to bring some malice to his role of Agent Burns but ends up coming off flat and unconvincing. It’s not a terrible performance, as Cena produces plenty of chuckles in more comedic moments. However, his talents during serious scenes leave a bit to be desired.
Metal Mayhem
In terms of action and explosions, Bumblebee contains plenty of excitement. Like other Transformers film, a solid CGI budget makes for enthralling and exciting displays of metallic mayhem. However, the action is much easier to follow than previous films, thanks to smart cinematography. The movie is much more focused on the human element than pure Transformers action, but when the robot fists start flying, it’s often riveting to watch. Despite a healthy amount of explosions and shrapnel, Bumblebee never feels excessive. The core of the story rests in the bond between Charlie and Bumblebee, and the action simply makes that story more exciting.
As a small side note, I have to commend the writers for not overusing the 1980’s time frame. In recent years, we’ve seen a huge resurgence of the 80’s aesthetic. From Marvel films to popular television shows like Stranger Things, the 80’s time frame has been featured prominently. Fortunately, Bumblebee doesn’t beat you over the head with its retro throwback. Sure, there’s a healthy amount of time-appropriate pop tunes, references, clothing, and media. However, the movie doesn’t ever make it the focus of the storytelling. The time frame feels natural and fun, and it lends itself well to the Transformers property.
Flaws in the Machine
Not every part of Bumblebee is a break-out success though. While the main narrative is satisfactory and entertaining, some of the subplots are unnecessary and never resolved. There are a few scenes that focus on a group of popular girls who bully Charlie (and rather brutally, too), but this issue is never resolved. After a one-off scene, we never meet the characters again or get any closure. The same can be said for the weak romance story between Charlie and Memo (Jorge Lendeborg Jr), a young man who lives across the street from Charlie. Memo has a pretty big crush on Charlie, and it’s one of his main reasons for reaching out to her. His persistence to introduce himself to Charlie and ask her out is the catalyst for his involvement in the main plot, but beyond that, it doesn’t result in much. By the film’s resolution, I was baffled by why the small romance was even included. It doesn’t take up a large portion of screen time, but it feels lazy and unnecessary in terms of the bigger picture. Additionally, there are a few plot holes that require you to suspend your disbelief, and Charlie’s family are often more annoying than they are endearing.
Should You Go See Bumblebee?
Ultimately, Bumblebee is a surprising reboot of the Transformers franchise that surpasses everything except the original film in 2007. For some viewers, Bumblebee will easily be the best Transformers movie, but I still hold a bit of nostalgia for the original film. Plainly put, Bumblebee has great robot action, a charming and heartfelt story about friendship, and a solid performance from Hailee Steinfeld. Some of the script is lackluster, and a few of the characters lack personality, but the movie is an overall success. It resets the Transformers film franchise in a better and more honest direction. At its core, Bumblebee feels like a movie that was made with passion and care. When compared to the obvious cash-ins that were the second through fifth Transformers movies, Bumblebee is a refreshing breath of fresh air. It’s a funny and exciting film for both Transformers fans and newcomers, and while it’s occasionally violent, it can be a great film for more mature kids. If the last few Transformers movies have pushed you away from the franchise, I highly recommend you give it another shot. Through and through, Bumblebee is an enjoyable movie. There are some flaws for sure, but it’s easily the best Transformers movie since 2007.
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Movie Rating: 4 stars.
Movie Rating Guide
1 Star = Unwatchable
2 Stars = Cannot Recommend
3 Stars = Great for the Fans
4 Stars = A Solid Movie
5 Stars = Must Own (DVD/Stream Download)
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