There`s an inherent goofiness to Transformers that`s impossible to avoid. We`re talking about big robots from space that transform into Volkswagons and Camaros and fighter jets. Bumblebee doesn`t shy away from that--it fully embraces the fun silliness. But that`s not even the best part about this movie--that would be how it actually feels mostly like a 1980s Spielberg adventure movie, with notes of John Hughes sweetening the mix.Those influences aren`t subtle--the E.T. vibe is real, especially when Hailee Steinfeld`s character, Charlie Watson, first encounters Autobot B127 as a scared alien creature hiding in the corner of her garage. And there are multiple extremely literal Breakfast Club gags, including a throughline of Bumblebee mimicking Judd Nelson by throwing one fist triumphantly into the air, which the movie deploys in the most perfect ways. Bumblebee also has tons of fun with the music of the era--the Transformer starts the movie with a voice, on the distant planet Cybertron, before losing his vocal capabilities in combat. Charlie teaches him to use the radio to communicate, at the same time imparting her love of alternative `80s jams. Bumblebee doesn`t care for Morrissey`s crooning at first, but dang it if she won`t instill in the robot an appreciation for The Smiths by the end.Bumblebee begins on Cybertron, where a big, somewhat messy action scene establishes that the Decepticons have rooted out the Autobot rebellion. You really don`t need to know anything about Transformers to appreciate this--I`m sure there are some finer points for fans, but the important bit is that Optimus Prime sends Bumblebee to Earth to keep it safe and wait for the Autobots to regroup. On arrival, Bumblebee lands square on top of John Cena`s Agent Burns, some kind of high-ranking, square-jawed military type who makes it his mission to neutralize the robot-Volkswagon threat. Also, this is apparently a full reboot of the Transformers movies--Bumblebee here arrives on Earth in ...
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