Review: Bumblebee
Calling Bumblebee the best Transformers film might seem a backhanded compliment given it has such a low bar to clear since all of the films in the franchise have been the very models of mindless mediocrity, but this is not faint praise. Bumblebee is everything its predecessors should have been: a winning action movie that has a lot of heart and that actually cares as much about its humans as it does its machines.
Much of the credit goes to screenwriter Christina Hodson, who essentially reimagines the prequel as a modern-day E.T.: The Extraterrestrial by focusing on the bond between its lead Autobot and eighteen-year-old Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), who is still reeling from the loss of her father and is resentful that her mom (Pamela Adlon) and younger brother Otis (Jason Drucker) have seemingly moved on without any problems. Charlie is in need of an anchor and she finds one in the form of B-127, who becomes a hybrid of pet, best friend, and protector. Their friendship serves as the emotional ballast of an appealingly character-driven film that never neglects to deliver the thrills and special effects that the franchise's fans have come to expect.
B-127 has been sent to Earth by Optimus Prime, who tasks him to set up a base of operations where the Autobots can regroup in order to continue their fight against the Decepticons. Unfortunately for the young scout, he ends up being ambushed by a Decepticon upon arrival and ends up with his vocal processors torn and his memory core damaged. Before he goes into automated shutdown, he manages to scan and transform into a Volkswagen Beetle, which is discovered by music-loving, auto repair enthusiast Charlie who brings the car home only to discover that it's actually a robot. The two become fast friends, but danger looms ahead for not only are Decepticons Shatter (voiced by Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (voiced by Justin Theroux) on Earth to hunt down B-127, but they have duped Sector 7, a secret government agency, into believing that they are peacekeepers and that B-127 is a highly dangerous criminal.
Not only does Bumblebee up the ante as far as depth of characterisation and storytelling, it also elevates its CG treatment of the robots. Director Travis Knight, helming his first live-action feature after Kubo and the Two Strings, allows audiences to appreciate the way the robots twist from one shape to another and imbues the robots with subtle but nuanced layers of characterisation that prevents them from being mere hunks of metal. It's certainly a welcome change of pace from the Bayhem that defined the previous films. Just as refreshing is Charlie herself, who most definitely evades the hot but decorative girl stereotype that has plagued the franchise, and who is winningly played by Steinfeld. Also on hand is John Cena, who brings a knowing, tongue-in-cheek humour to the proceedings, adding yet another reason to go and see this enormously entertaining and endearing film.
Bumblebee
Directed by: Travis Knight
Written by: Christina Hodson
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Ortiz, Jason Drucker, Pamela Adlon, Len Cariou, Dylan O'Brien, Peter Cullen, Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux
