I admit the Transformer films are a guilty pleasure for me. More so the original trilogy of films not so much the Mark Wahlberg films none of which was Mark’s fault just not very good films. Now comes a prequel focusing on the popular Autobot, Bumblebee. Warning, spoilers ahead…
It’s 1987 and the war on Cybertron has reached its peak between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Optimus Prime sends Bumblebee to Earth to build a base of operation for the Autobots. Now we know why he was here on Earth in the first place when Sam Witwicky finds him years later in the original Michael Bay film.
Bumblebee ends up taking refuge in a California beach town junkyard where he is soon discovered by Charlie (Hailee Steinfled) a typical soon to be 18-year-old girl who is still searching for her place in the world in front of her. It won’t take long for her to realize that there’s more than meets to eye to this broken down yellow Volkswagen bug. Complicating things is the fact that Bumblebee didn’t arrive alone. A couple of decepticons have also arrived on Earth and has convinced the US Military and Agent Burns (John Cena) of Sector 7, that Bumblebee is a threat and wants the military to help them hunt him down.
Transformer films by its very nature are all about suspending belief in favor of incredible action and thin storylines. I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this film and a lot that has to do with Steinfled in the lead. Much like the Witwicky character, Charlie is also an outcast. But unlike Witwicky, Charlie is far more relatable which makes her easier to root for. As a wrestling fan, I have to say Cena is quite credible as Agent Burns and he has a screen presence that can serve him well in years to come. Not sure if he’ll be the next Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson but I know he’s not the next Hulk Hogan and that is a very good thing for him.
If this movie proves anything, is that what once appeared to be a dead franchise, is now fun again and perhaps a new lease on life which means dare I say, more sequels on the way. As Optimus Prime once said… roll out.
Directed by: Travis Knight
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, John Lendeborg, Jr., John Ortiz, Abby Quinn, Pamela Adlon, Stephen Schneider and Kenneth Choi
PG13 114 min
BUMBLEBEE – ***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
