Okay…let’s get this out the way, the Transformers as a film franchise is pretty horrible. When these “robots in disguise” kicked off their cinematic universe back in 2007 there was so much promise. There was this hope that if they could keep the slow motion, acute racism, product placements and every other Michael Bay-ism to a minimum there was something truly special to come. Sadly, it never came to pass. I will admit that I’m in the minority here considering that this franchise has now grossed over 4 billion dollars worldwide. Apparently, these 5 films have resonated with quite a few people out there.
Paramount Pictures has made a ballsy decision to change course to breathe new life into this world by placing Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) in the director’s chair. This move pays dividends. Knight takes what could be considered a stale and sometimes overblown universe and manages to shrink it down and add much needed heart and charm, two key elements that were sorely lacking over the previous 5 films.
As the movie opens, we’re placed right in the heart of the action with the good guy Autobots and evil Decepticons engaged in civil war on their home planet of Cybertron. For the brief moments we spend on Cybertron there are Easter eggs galore that are sure to delight fans of the G1 (generation 1) Transformers in the form of cameos. The best part? These sentient robots actually look like their counterparts from the 1980’s cartoon, not like the monstrosities cooked up a few years back. It is at this point that we’re reintroduced to Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, and dedicated soldier B-127 who has yet to take on the moniker of Bumblebee.
The movie does what it needs to do in order to move the plot, and Bumblebee himself, to Earth. This is where the rest of the movie will be spent as we meet the new human tag alongs this go-round. First up is Charlie played by Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). Charlie is in the midst of grieving the loss of her father and disappointed that her mother (Pamela Adlon) and brother (Jason Drucker) are already replacing him with the mother’s new boyfriend, Ron.
Next, we have Sector 7; remember them? Lt. Jack Burns played by WWE superstar John Cena (Trainwreck, Blockers). While I wasn’t a fan of Cena’s performance in this particular film, he has one of the best lines in the movie where he clearly states the obvious when it comes to trusting Decepticons. Speaking of the Decepticons, ‘Queen’ Angela Basset (Black Panther, American Horror Story) and Justin Theroux (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) lend their voices and bring to life the maniacal bounty hunting duo of Dropkick and Shatter. They are tasked with finding and dismantling the rest of the Autobot resistance and they’ll take out anyone who stands in their way of accomplishing their mission.
The relationship between “Bee” and Charlie is the glue that holds it all together. It’s no surprise to anyone in the audience that these two will join forces in an attempt to save the world. What works is that while this relationship is necessary, it doesn’t necessarily seem forced. They both learn to trust and more importantly empathize with one another’s plights. Screenwriter Christina Hodson (Shut In) decides to rely more on character and heart than explosions and spectacle.
All in all, “Bumblebee” (while not perfect) is indeed a solid foundation from which Paramount can continue building upon. It’s respectful to the source material without being a slave to it. While the first five incarnations still leave a bad taste in my mouth, this soft reboot comes along and manages to subvert expectations and deliver the goods.
ES
Studio: Paramount
Title: Bumblebee
Director: Travis Knight
Producer(s): Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Tom DeSanto, Don Murphy, Mishael Bay, Mark Vahradian
Screenplay: Christina Hodson
Based on: “Transformers” by Hasbro
The Eddiot Savant 