‘Bumblebee’ is better than all of the Transformers movies combined. You heard that right. This is one of the best popcorn movies of the season. Thankfully it is the end of Michael Bay directing the franchise to the scrapheap. The new film has a fresh storytelling voice. Director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) and screenwriter Christina Hodson breathe new life into Transformers. It is an origin film set in 1987. The nostalgic music and introduction of a teen heroine give the film the emotional heart it was lacking previously. The talented actress Hailee Steinfeld (Edge of Seventeen) delivers a superb performance as the girl who bonds with the friendly Autobot. ‘Bumblebee’ is more than meets the eye for the whole family.
The opening wastes no time setting up the story. The prologue takes place on the planet Cybertron where the Autobots (good guys) lose a battle against the Decepticons (bad guys) in a civil war. Optimus Prime orders the Autbots to retreat. He sends one of his lieutenants named B-127 to Earth as a location to stage a future rebellion against the Decepticons. B-127 crash lands and is discovered by his enemies that destroy his voice box before he is able to hide as a Volkswagen Bug. Meet teenager Charlie (Steinfeld) who wears black eyeliner and dons band t-shirts like The Smiths. She is still mourning the loss of her father while her mother (Pamela Adlon) has moved on. Charlie works at a corndog shop at the local amusement park but used to tinker with old cars with her dad. She perfectly plays the angst-ridden teen looking for purpose in life.
She wants a car of her own. It’s a symbol for every teen to gain independence with their own wheels. One day as she scavenges a junkyard for used parts, she discovers the yellow VW Bug. She talks the junkyard owner to let her have it. She gets it started and drives it home into the garage. This is where the story gets good. Reminiscent of ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,’ she discovers that her Bug is not just a car when he transforms into robot form. She names him Bumblebee and it is in the garage that they form a deep friendship. It’s this bond that they forge that makes the audience care about their journey throughout the film. It is much more than just an action adventure. It is a coming-of-age film for Steinfeld’s character too.
You have to hand it to the production designer Sean Haworth. The film makes you feel nostalgic for the ‘80s like no other film. This is before cellphones and the Internet. Video games were primitive such as Pong on big box television. Charlie is awakened by a clock radio and listens to a Walkman. Her mom’s house is filled with devices that take you back to a simpler time. There is even a humorous scene where Bumblebee sneaks into the house and wreaks havoc like an oversized puppy dog. The designers of the robot cleverly made his eyes look like two blue flashlights. The soundtrack infuses killer ‘80s tracks like Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget About Me,” The Smiths “Girlfriend in a Coma,” A-Ha “Take On Me” and Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
The movie works on so many levels. Steinfeld gives depth to her character. You truly get the sense that her friendship with Bumblebee helps her grieve the loss of her father. Back in the ‘80s, Charlie is the kind of girl that you wanted to date. She has great taste in music, a unique style and doesn’t care about fitting in with the popular kids at school. This is a well-paced sci-fi adventure. When the Decepticons Shatter and Dropkick find out where Bumblebee is hiding on Earth, get ready for some exciting CGI battle scenes. The fights between the bad guys and Bumblebee are kick-ass and not as overwhelming and confusing as Bay’s battle royale mayhem. ‘Bumblebee’ is like finding an old mixtape in your attic. It makes you feel good inside.
