If you were a kid with some semblance of memory during the 80s, you had some kind of exposure to Transformers. The “robots in disguise” that paraded around as vehicles only to hide their true robotic form with some intent on saving the world, while others desired to destroy it. As a kid, I digested every bit of the cartoon and animated film and my collection of action figures likely put my mom in a tizzy as I asked for any and all that I could possess. Transformers was certainly a part of my childhood which is why I couldn’t quite recognize what Michael Bay did when he adapted the franchise into a live-action film back in 2007.
The first film isn’t really a bad offender. It’s a special effects heavy romp that is high on action and stellar effects and it does have a likable lead in Shia LaBeouf but, even though it was an entertaining venture, it lacked the sense of awe that made the animated ventures memorable as a child. The main issue was a lack of heart and as each sequel was churned out, the heart could barely finish a single beat. With each subsequent film, Michael Bay turned the films into an orgy of robot violence and character development fell by the wayside. I’m all for turn my brain off at the door action but film after film of this grew tiresome. By the time the last film in the franchise, Transformers: The Last Knight, was released in 2017, the movies were so nondescript that they easily became forgettable, despite their massive worldwide box office.
I hate to be a Michael Bay naysayer because I have enjoyed some of his films and I think it does take some talent to orchestrate cinematic action, but taking him out of the Transformers equation has finally yielded a good film. Bumblebee, a prequel/spinoff of sorts, isn’t just a good Transformers film but it’s a good film in general that FINALLY captures the feeling you had as a kid when you watched Transformers and played with the action figures. New at the directing helm is Travis Knight known primarily for his stop-motion efforts such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings. This is his first live-action venture and his attention to detail is a true benefit to Bumblebee. There is still the level of action that one would expect from a Transformers film but Knight’s detail expands to the story and characters. This is a story about emotions and friendships rather than merely robot violence and Knight gives just as much time to these elements, maybe even more so than the dueling battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons.
The movie begins with a short prologue set on the Transformers’ homeworld of Cybertron, which has been torn apart by civil war. Sensing defeat, Optimus Prime evacuates his Autobots, sending them to different potential future bases for the resistance. For Bumblebee, this means Earth. His arrival isn’t met with open arms, however. He is almost immediately attacked by a group of soldiers led by Burns (John Cena), whose furious attacks damage him. The situation becomes worse when Decepticons Shatter (voice of Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (voice of Justin Theroux) enter the fray. The critically wounded Bumblebee has no choice but to shut down and, after blending in with the shape of a yellow VW bug, he is left for scrap.
Sometime after these events, 18-year old Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), finds him. At first, she thinks she’s getting a really cool birthday present when the junkyard dealer offers her the wreck, although she doesn’t realize how “cool” it is. That night, in her parents’ garage, she and Bumblebee come face-to-face. The next few days are about them getting to know one another as the Autobot becomes for Charlie what she lacks: a friend and confidante. Eventually, Shatter and Dropkick discover that Bumblebee isn’t dead and, when they come looking for him, this new, unconventional friendship is put to the test.
Travis Knight deserves a ton of credit for what he accomplishes here but he’s not alone in crafting this story. Screenwriters Christina Hodson and Kelly Fremon Craig, writer/director of Edge of Seventeen provides a rewrite, give the film a voice that allows it to gain what the franchise has lacked: a heart. The film’s approach to its human protagonist is much different than how the series worked when the role was filled by Shia LeBeouf (films #1-3) or Mark Wahlberg (#4-5). Bumblebee treats Charlie as a real person and gives her believably normal problems that an outcast 18-year old might face. Knight devotes a significant amount of Bumblebee’s running time to the development of the bond between Charlie and Bumblebee – something unheard-of when Bay was in charge. Also unheard of was treating a female character with respect, something that Bay didn’t try to do when was at the helm. Megan Fox, who took on the female co-lead in the first two films, is a beautiful woman but that’s the only way Bay viewed and chose to show her. She was eye candy and the camera made sure to gaze upon her assets in a voyeuristic sort of way. The same can also be said of Nicola Peltz in Age of Extinction and Laura Haddock in The Last Knight. They were objects to be desired on the screen but Hailee Steinfeld, beautiful in her own right, is called upon for her believability as a character and the film cares about her development as a lonely girl searching for a friend and understanding to someone who finds strength in an unlikely friendship. Perhaps Paramount heard the criticisms of the franchises’ depiction of its female characters and not only made the lead a female but also made her a lead with purpose and tenacity.
Much of the real joy and downright awe of the film is how fleshed out Bumblebee is as a character. This is a creation of special effects that don’t speak and yet he has the depth of a living and breathing human being. The film seems heavily influenced by Steven Spielberg’s E.T. and this is especially true in its depiction of its non-human character. Bumblebee has personality and we feel his sense of joy and whimsy as he discovers new things and when he feel his sadness as he relates to Charlie in various scenes where she’s showing her vulnerability. We also see his heroism as he steps up to save her during crucial moments. None of Bay’s Transformers’ films have come close to making his creations this multi-dimensional.
A lot of time is spent making sure the film feels like a product of the 80s (the film is set in 1987) and it largely succeeds. The trappings that plague modern life aren’t present (no cell phones and no social media) while video games and televisions are at their primitive stages. The songs that dominate the soundtrack also go a long way to make you feel the nostalgia. You get to hear the likes of Simple Minds (“Don’t You Forget About Me”), A-Ha (“Take On Me”), Tears for Fears (“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”), The Smiths (“Girlfriend in a Coma”), Steve Winwood (“Higher Love”), and others. Keeping the film in the 80s framework also makes the film feel like it’s completely tied to the Transformers we knew and loved, a connection the Bay films lacked.
On the human side of things, Hailee Steinfeld is largely why the film works. There is a depth in her performance and she forms a fully realized character. She did similar work in Edge of Seventeen and while her career has seen her go from an Oscar nominee at a young age (True Grit) to a pop star that jumped into the Pitch Perfect franchise, she is first and foremost a true actress and she gets to showcase that here. John Cena isn’t winning any awards for his role here but it’s suited to his capabilities. He drops some pretty solid one-liners and he continues to show that he has charisma on-screen. Steinfeld’s true co-star, however, is all CGI. Like the women who played opposite King Kong, Steinfeld has to overcome the obstacle of not having a human to interact with and she accomplishes this like a true pro.
If the film has one issue it is that the struggle between the Autobots and the Decepticons isn’t as strong as the human element, something that would be unheard of with Bay at the helm. This part of the plot is a necessary evil because, at the end of the day, this is a Transformers movie and it needs to set up action set pieces, but it proves to be not as interesting as the budding friendship between Charlie and Bumblebee. That being said the vocal work, most notably Angela Bassett as Shatter, is top notch engrossing.
Bumblebee is the true Transformers movie that fans have been asking for. It only took 11 years to get this done but it’s proof that not all franchises should be abandoned due to diminishing creative returns. As a film of escapism entertainment, it’s top notch but as a coming of age drama exploring the power of friendship, it’s in a league of its own this holiday season.
