Bumblebee (2018) Review

I have to be honest: after Revenge of the Fallen, I haven't seen the other Transformers movies that followed it because it was starting to become old with the loud noises, racial stereotypes, and lame jokes. I didn't even want to give Michael Bay the satisfaction when he said the people who hate his films will still go see them. But after 11 years, back when the first one came out, it seemed like things would turn around when they announced a spin-off centering around Bumblebee and having a new director, Travis Knight, who worked in LAIKA and directed Kubo and the Two Strings. 

It starts off in an exciting way on the planet Cybertron where the Autobots are in a battle with the Decepticons. Bumblebee, who at this point is known as B-127, is ordered by Optimus Prime to retreat to the planet Earth as a safe haven. Along the way, his vocal cords get damaged, rendering him speechless. He hides as a Volkswagen where he is found by 18-year-old Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld). Wouldn't you know, they become friends. But government agents and Decepticons threaten the two of them so they need to protect themselves and help Bee carry out his mission.

I'm just going to get this out of the way: this is a good Transformers movie. Coming off of a franchise that seems to have too much and too little, this one has a simple story with lots of heart. It is best described as a mix of E.T. and The Iron Giant, but it is a nice change of pace for the setting to be in the 1980s. Also for good measure, the Transformers are in their G1 designs for this film, which should please all the fans who want to feel nostalgic.

Providing and leading the human element is Hailee Steinfeld and she does a fine job. I hope her performance could teach Michael Bay how you write a good female character, especially since the movie is written by a woman. I could relate to her predicament, losing her father whereas I lost my mother when I was almost her age. She and Bee share a good amount of tender, heartfelt moments. You also have John Cena as Agent Burns who is after Bee after a misunderstanding causes havoc. Between this and Blockers, Cena's filmography has got a couple of good films, to say the least. Even then, I don't see him as a one-note character. He's shown to be personable, funny, and willing to help his fellow men from the beginning and would even for a moment doubt the requests of Decepticons, Dropkick and Shatter, who are after Bee.

As for issues, I think this movie has some cliches you'd find in these types of stories such as Bee wandering around Charlie's house and accidentally wrecking the place. You also got the stereotypical pretty girl bullies who pick on Charlie but it leads to the funniest scene of the movie where a simple gesture of payback involving TP leads into more destruction. If they played around with these cliches in a different way, I thought it could have been stronger.

But as it is, it's a well-done Transformer film. I enjoyed it as much as the first one, if not more for having more fun and human elements. Travis Knight gave us some of the things we craved for and I hope he can come back for a follow-up, or at least have new blood for this franchise. So to put it plainly, theatergoers, roll out!

RATING: MODEST APPROVAL (B)