To say that the Transformers franchise has had it’s highs and lows is an understatement. From its debut in 2007, to its abysmal, and potentially final chapter, 2017’s The Last Knight, Transformers movies have had a very loyal fan base, and over the years that very same fan base has shrunken and expanded over the decade. For those like myself that have stayed loyal up until this point, Bumblebee will be the payoff we’ve all been waiting for. After the waste of time that was The Last Knight, I flinched at the idea of a Bumblebee spinoff movie, especially after where Michael Bay had taken the autobot in said film. Thankfully, director Travis Knight knows his source material and crafted what is debate-ably the best Transformers film to date. Creating an origin story for the fan favorite Autobot, and putting it in an 80’s setting payed off for the film, and gave it a much more intimate setting, and much smaller a scale from all other films before it.

Bumblebee begins on Cybertron, a setting fans have been waiting for since the beginning, but has only been teased and shown in small glimpses in past films. In this film it is shown, not falling apart or dying, but a planet in turmoil as the Autobots and Decepticons fight over how best to rule/ inhabit it. It is here were a huge chunk of the pay off comes, as fans can behold not only the infamous planet, but the Transformers in their long awaited Generation 1 designs and it is quite the sight. Here is when Bumblebee is sent to earth to protect it from Decepticon threats. Events unfold and here is when we discover how Bee looses his voice and why he has to use the radio to communicate like he does when we first meet him. He is soon discovered by Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld. This is where the  movie finds its Chemistry. Hailee Steinfeld has the ability to play well with, and off of a CGI robot, and their connection and attachment is what makes audiences care for the movie and invest their time into it. Steinfeld plays a much more like-able and relate-able protagonist than Shia Labeouf ever did, mostly because this movie is toned way down from every other film before it in every way, Humor included. This isn’t to say the film is without comedy, it can very much play to a Young, or old audience, its just a more subtle and calm type of humor.

As far as supporting characters go, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Memo, and Charlies’ counterpart is also relate-able and like-able, taking Transformers existing in stride, but also not becoming a love interest and maintaining his characters identity and individuality. I was very nervous to see John Cena as the films Villain, but these movies always seem to have at least one of the “macho” type characters in it, and Cena plays the part better than I anticipated. Certainly not the best Villain, he’s the villain this movie needs, and in a way pays homage to an 80’s style action hero. The films score by  Dario Marianelli is similar to past Transformer film scores, but the Soundtrack more than makes up for what the score lacks. With artists such as The Smiths, Bon Jovi, and Duran Duran, the soundtrack is a must own filled with some of the greatest hits of the decade. The films special effects are really put onto display here, featuring less robots on the screen at one time, so they were really able to put insane amounts of detail into the ones that take up the majority of the films run time, while also bringing the G1 designs to the screen with some flare.

Whether or not you still ride the Transformers bandwagon, Bumblebee is well worth a watch, Transformers fan or not. If you are a fan, it will remind you why you love the characters, while washing the taste of the previous films out of your mouth at the same time. If you never really cared for the franchise, this film is a good jumping on point, showcasing the Transformers ability to be more than just a brainless action franchise, and have heart and relate to all demographics and ages.

8.5 out of 10.

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