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Unlike previous Transformer movies, “Bumblebee” is likely to find its audience across gender and age lines. It is set to hit theaters in the United States on Dec. 21, 2018.
The lead character is less CG-like than previous films. He looks like what one would expect a robot to appear. One YouTube commenter wrote:
This really is how transformers in movie form should’ve looked, that shot of Cybertron was fantastic. None of this intricate modern design [garbage], just straight up transformers looking like transformers nice simplistic designs with bright colors.
Reminiscent of Herbie in Walt Disney’s “Love Bug,” 1969, “Bumblebee” is a Volkswagon Beetle. These characters both have endearing personalities and tend to be head-strong. The former is a white race car with a mind of his own, whereas the latter is a yellow transformer with a strong sense of responsibility.
Charlie Watson portrays Hailee Steinfeld. She discovers Bumblebee hiding out in her uncle’s junkyard and takes him home. His voice is Dylan O’Brien. Joining the cast is John Cena as Agent Burns and John Ortiz playing Agent Powell. Other transformer voices are Justin Theroux as Dropkick and Angela Bassett as Shatter. Optimus Prime’s is brought to life with the voice of Peter Cullen.
The film is rating is PG13. It is billed as an action, adventure, and sci-fi flick. Vogue Magazine explains the concept for the 6th transformer movie brings viewers to the story’s origin. Moreover, screenwriter “Christina Hodson clearly imagined [the stroyline] as a throwback to classic Amblin-style boy-and-his-dog movies, directly channeling elements of such films as “E.T.,” “Harry and the Hendersons,” and “Batteries Not Included.”
Set in 1987, the movie is replete with nostalgic props like Tab cola, rotary phones, and TVs with rabbit-ears, according to Vogue. Bumblebee is not named for his coloration of yellow and black, but for the buzzing sounds, Watson hears from the car/robot’s broken voice box.
Those who were not fans of previous films may enjoy this toned down character-driven film. It is not packed with the over-the-top action but brings audiences into the origin of Transformer storyline.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
Variety: Film Review: ‘Bumblebee’
IMDb: Bumblebee (2018)
IndieWire: ‘Bumblebee’ Review: The Best Transformers Movie By Far Actually Cares About People
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Thomas Hawk’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License