Quick Review: Bumblebee (2018)

 After 5 not-so-good to very bad Transformers Films, the Series ended (for now) with...a Prequel?  To see why that might not be bad, read on...

We finally get to see a big-time battle for Cybertron!  

It took six Movies, but...oh...it's over now.
Dammit.

A young woman is going through alot in her life, having lost her Dad and trying to figure out what to do with her life now.

Getting a new Car seems like a good start.

Of course, the Car is actually Bumblebee.

His arrival on Earth didn't go well, ending with him wounded and left for dead (as far as Transformers can 'die').  

He took on this new form when he lost his voice and memory (banks).

Two Decepticons follow him to Earth, hoping to find out where the other Autobots are.

They pretend to be good to work with the Army.

Credit where credit is due- Agent John Cena doesn't trust them, pointing out that the name 'Decepticons' rings a few warning bells.

Will the bond between giant alien robot and girl be enough to save the day?

Or will Bumblebee have to get into a big, dangerous and explosion-filled battle?

Produced by Michael Bay, you say.  Well, that's one mystery solved.

A better Film than it has any right to be.  At its core, the Film is a bit conflicted.  On one hand, it wants to be a Prequel to the Transformers Films.  On the other hand, it might actually be a setup for *different* Transformers Films.  That was about 3 years ago, so...who knows at this point.  This is a Film about the bond between a young girl and a robot.  This is *also* a Film about a Soldier learning to get over his fear/distrust of robots.  This is a Film about the Military not exactly being that smart.  I guess since they didn't use any actual Military Personnel for this one, they don't have to write in what they ask to be put in.  This is a Film about the power of family and how they unite us.  This is somehow *also* a Film about how your Military family is the really important group.  Confused?  I am and I wrote this!  When it is not being pulled in like 5 different directions, the Film really delivers key moments.  They can get emotional.  They can be fun.  They can be action-packed.  In separate parts, the Film really works quite well.  There is only one official Writer here- a woman, so this counts for Women's History Month- but there is some clear examples of Studio 'directives' in play.  According to reports, Cena's character was originally written to be more overtly-antagonistic, being known as Scarface.  In the final product, he's, well, not at all.  If you can look past the gumbo-like nature of the Screenplay, Bumblebee is surprisingly-good.  Shockingly, getting away from Mark Wahlberg as a Scientist, things improve.  Hell, even their Dog Scenes don't involve them humping each other...

A softer and more nuanced Film than any Transformers Film in recent memory.  It has some real heart, even if it tries a little bit too hard in some moments.