Allow me to fling my hands in the air early and state, for the record, that I never thought the day would arrive in which I would willingly sit down for a Transformers film - much less enjoy one as much as I did Bumblebee. An origins-cum-prequel-cum-spin-off of sorts, the Travis Knight film is the franchise's version of rebooting itself after some critical and commercial whiffs; once a Hollywood dream machine of profit, 2017's The Last Knight essentially broke Michael Bay's pet project down to be sold as scrap. Thankfully, this colourful, entertaining blockbuster starts the series afresh.
Sustaining injuries beyond self-repair while attempting to flee the civil war raging on his home planet, a young scout, B-127, is eventually discovered and mended by teenage outcast Charlie Watson. Forming a friendship due to their similarities, Charlie names him 'Bumblebee' and the two battle side-by-side when both government agencies assuming he is a hostile, and Decepticons who plan to capture and torture Bee, join forces to hunt him. Starring Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena and Jorge Lendeborg Jr, Bumblebee delivers both thrills and heart in this solid blockbuster.
For all the robot fights and mechanical explosions it threatened to be engulfed by, Bumblebee sure has a lot of heart. From the creative use of 80s music to the spirited performances that enliven it, the well-rounded humour to the poignant exploration of outsiders and friendship, the Transformers spin-off manages to steer away from the cynicism that can often be associated with tentpole prequel filmmaking. First and foremost a character-driven story, Bumblebee thrives in its simplicity; sure, it still more-than-capably presents a handful of bombastic, exhilarating set pieces that provide fans of the franchise with the kick that they know and love, but it is the smaller moments in between - the bonding between Charlie and Bee, the coming-of-age themes and rich 80s setting - that sets this film apart.
Christina Hodson's screenplay marries an engaging story with some recognisable subject matter, interwoven successfully throughout the piece. Even when it becomes a touch repetitive and overly-familiar with its narrative beats and themes, relying on a broader formula you often will it to break away from, its focus on character and dynamic is a refreshing change of pace. There's a real sense of sincerity to the film that may catch you off guard, and many have made the correlation with it being the female screenwriter at the helm: Hodson's effectively-balanced and charming script propels the plot forward while relishing in the more personal, intimate moments of character building, a rare balance that really benefits Bumblebee.
Steinfeld is terrific as the film's lead with a tour-de-force performance that cements her as multi-faceted talent in Hollywood. Combining a teenage scrappiness with feistiness and heart that makes her so endlessly compelling, Steinfeld portrays the character arc with gusto, her natural likability endearing audiences to her journey. It is easy to forget that she's not acting against the finished, CGI version of Bumblebee but that is a testament to how convincing she is here. Cena is as charming as expected and Lendeborg Jr again proves that he could be one of our most promising rising stars following his supporting turn in Love, Simon.
Travis Knight's direction really helps steady the boat too. His colourful world and action sequences - the finale is particularly strong, with an impressive one-take showing Charlie running away from the fighting Transformers looming behind here - helps deliver the spectacle while never losing sight of the character work and important central dynamic. He keeps it tight and light at each turn which results in an enjoyable diversion for the franchise that never takes itself too seriously, or feel too disposable. He successful removes so much of the cynicism that could have torn this film apart.
Bumblebee is a surprising little charmer. In spite of a handful of minor faults that prevent the film from really advancing, it is an effective and entertaining effort that combines both the typical thrills of blockbuster filmmaking with character development and a personality of its own. It won't change the world of cinema but it reboots a tired franchise by giving it a renewed energy and spring in its step. Hailee Steinfeld is a treasure and, with a strong script in tow, Bumblebee is allowed to thrive as a character-driven blockbuster with just enough on its mind to succeed. A buzzy little thing, this one really won me over.
Summary: Bumblebee reinvigorates a tired franchise with a colourful blockbuster that cares as much for the action set pieces as it does the character dynamics and themes. Charming in its simplicity, Bumblebee is a wonderful surprise.
Christina Hodson's screenplay marries an engaging story with some recognisable subject matter, interwoven successfully throughout the piece. Even when it becomes a touch repetitive and overly-familiar with its narrative beats and themes, relying on a broader formula you often will it to break away from, its focus on character and dynamic is a refreshing change of pace. There's a real sense of sincerity to the film that may catch you off guard, and many have made the correlation with it being the female screenwriter at the helm: Hodson's effectively-balanced and charming script propels the plot forward while relishing in the more personal, intimate moments of character building, a rare balance that really benefits Bumblebee.
Steinfeld is terrific as the film's lead with a tour-de-force performance that cements her as multi-faceted talent in Hollywood. Combining a teenage scrappiness with feistiness and heart that makes her so endlessly compelling, Steinfeld portrays the character arc with gusto, her natural likability endearing audiences to her journey. It is easy to forget that she's not acting against the finished, CGI version of Bumblebee but that is a testament to how convincing she is here. Cena is as charming as expected and Lendeborg Jr again proves that he could be one of our most promising rising stars following his supporting turn in Love, Simon.
Travis Knight's direction really helps steady the boat too. His colourful world and action sequences - the finale is particularly strong, with an impressive one-take showing Charlie running away from the fighting Transformers looming behind here - helps deliver the spectacle while never losing sight of the character work and important central dynamic. He keeps it tight and light at each turn which results in an enjoyable diversion for the franchise that never takes itself too seriously, or feel too disposable. He successful removes so much of the cynicism that could have torn this film apart.
Bumblebee is a surprising little charmer. In spite of a handful of minor faults that prevent the film from really advancing, it is an effective and entertaining effort that combines both the typical thrills of blockbuster filmmaking with character development and a personality of its own. It won't change the world of cinema but it reboots a tired franchise by giving it a renewed energy and spring in its step. Hailee Steinfeld is a treasure and, with a strong script in tow, Bumblebee is allowed to thrive as a character-driven blockbuster with just enough on its mind to succeed. A buzzy little thing, this one really won me over.
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
(7/10)
Summary: Bumblebee reinvigorates a tired franchise with a colourful blockbuster that cares as much for the action set pieces as it does the character dynamics and themes. Charming in its simplicity, Bumblebee is a wonderful surprise.