“Bumblebee” hit theaters in December and has received praise from viewers and critics alike. The prequel to the “Transformers” franchise stars young guns Hailee Steinfeld and Jorge Lendeborg Jr., as well as veteran actor John Cena. The casting direction is a breath of fresh air after Shia LaBeouf exhausted the storyline in the three previous “Transformer” films. However, despite the updated cast, this critic was not impressed with director Travis Knight’s attempt to keep the robot franchise alive.
With films like “Mid-90s” and “Vice” hitting theaters in 2018 as well, there has been an increase in films that take place in the past, rather than in futuristic worlds. There has also been a trend of remakes and sequels, such as the hugely anticipated “Incredibles 2” that followed its predecessor after 14 years. It only makes sense that after three consecutive films into the future, there would have to be a “Transformers” prequel.
This film tells the story of Bumblebee, the friendly transformer who finds refuge on Earth in 1987. The lovable autobot befriends 18-year-old Charlie (Steinfeld), an isolated teenage girl with no human friends. While the concept of an autobot and a human becoming allies is not new to the “Transformers” world, Steinfeld gives a strong performance as a teenager who finds joy in her life again.
Though this portrayal of the relationship between Bumblebee and Charlie is successful, the plot ultimately failed by trying to accomplish too much at once. On the one hand, there was an overwhelming amount of references to 80s pop culture and John Hughes’ films like “The Breakfast Club.” With a soundtrack full of one-hit wonders from the corresponding decade, it was hard not to wonder if a script from a Hughes’ film had accidentally been meshed with a robot film. Besides the almost inauthentic effort to bring the audience into the decade, it was also difficult to keep track of Charlie’s relationships. At first, it’s significant that Charlie’s dad has passed away, but then she also has a dysfunctional relationship with her mother and step-dad and does not get along with her brother. On top of this, Charlie is occasionally enamored with the high-school stud and verbally berated by his girlfriend.
There are so many half-realized subplots in the film, as well as an intergalactic war going on, that it’s difficult to know what the audience should be most concerned with. With a 92 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film obviously garnered some praise, but this viewer is not in agreement. However, if you were a fan of the previous “Transformers” films, this may be a joyous occasion: a chance for you to see Optimus Prime and Bumblebee fighting together again.