BUMBLEBEE
US, 2018, 114 minutes, Colour.
Hailee Steinfeld. Jorge Landeborg Jr, John Cena, John Ortiz, Glynn Turman, Len Cariou.
Voices of: Dylan O'Brien, Peter Cullen, Angela Bassett, Justin through.
Directed by Travis Knight.
From Hasbro toys and animation feature films and television series in the 1980s, the Transformers have become a staple of popular entertainment. A decade ago, when director Michael Bay brought his somewhat overwhelmingly extravagant style to what became a franchise of Transformer films (loud and brash), the Transformers got a new lease on life.
Which means that Bumblebee might be surprising for audiences who have not kept close tabs on the Transformer adventures as they moved more and more into a desperate future, conflict between humans and machines, attacks from outer space and human efforts in defence as well as attack.
So, Bumblebee? And why not Transformers in the title of the film? Just to reassure the fans, the film does open with some Michael Bay-type action, the Decepticons trying to take over on their planet, the Autobots being chased and persecuted…
In fact, this is an “origins story�. We are being taken back into the 1980s, literally, looks, clothes, cars, musical excerpts (except for a long tribute to Unchained Melody). The Decepticons powers that be are searching for Optimus Prime. Bumblebee (that is his Earth name rather than his letter and figures scientific name, voiced by Dylan O’Brien) is a smaller Autobot but is sent to Earth to find a refuge. Needless to say, two fierce Decepticons track him down and bring the conflict to earth – on a comparatively small scale, two Decepticons versus one Autobot (no prizes for guessing who wins). The director of this film, Travis Knight, has worked for some years in animation.
Bumblebee is named because he can turn himself into a yellow VW – exceedingly quickly and with quite some agility. He is found by Charlie, Hailee Steinfeld being both strong and charming, mourning her father, hostile to her mother and brother, and her mother’s boyfriend. She has mechanical skills – and so, encounters Bumblebee.
While, as has been said, there are many Transformer moments, the film that Bumblebee most resembles (and there is Steven Spielberg here as executive producer) is ET. The parallels are considerable, the bonding between the extraterrestrial and the human, shared adventures, shared problems, shared triumphs, and quite an amount of cuteness.
And, as usual, there is a fierce hawkish American military -type, here played by solid and stolid former wrestler, John Cena, who takes every opportunity to attack Bumblebee but is persuaded by an earnest scientist (John Ortiz) to persuade an aggressive general (Glynn Turman) to collaborate with the Decepticons who offer all kinds of futuristic scientific advances – but, of course, are duplicitous, utilising earthly technology with their own to summon the evil forces.
And, along with Charlie, there is the rather shy and nerdish Memo (Jorge Landeborg Jr), attracted to Charlie and only too happy to become part of her ingenious adventures in saving Bumblebee. And, mother, brother and boyfriend all help to save the day.
The fans have liked the Transformer story, have liked the bonding between Charlie and Bumblebee – so, the best of both worlds.
1. From the 1980s? The animated cartoons and television series? The popularity of the Hasbro toys? The Hollywood developments, the blockbusters, plots, action, animation? The franchise?
2. The place of Bumblebee in the franchise? Presupposing audience interest? And origins story?
3. Introduction of the conflict between the Decepticons and the Autobots, their look, size, machines, voices, their planet? The dominance of the Decepticons, the revolution of the Autobots? The visuals and excitement?
4. The focus on the Autobots, the search for Optimus Prime? The small Autobot, name, character, voice? His ability to change? His being sent on a mission to Earth? To find a safe refuge? His journey?
5. The Decepticons, communication skills, following him to Earth?
6. His landing, his taking the form of the yellow VW? Surviving, hiding, finding a refuge?
7. The American military, force, the manpower, the leadership of Agent Burns? Gung ho and hawkish? A sense of mission? Fellow soldiers? His reporting to the General?
8. Introduction to Charlie, her age, the death of her father, photos, memories, his skills? Her resentment towards her mother, clashes with her brother, with her mother’s boyfriend? The surly interactions? Her going to the workshop, her old uncle? Wanting to repair the car?
9. The encounter with the Autobot, relating to him, understanding him, amazed at the transformations? His communication? The clashes with the Deceptive cons, they’re removing his voice?
10. Charlie and Bumblebee and their working together, renovating him? The amusement of the radios and his finding the lyrics of the songs to express his voice? Unchained
Melody?
11. Charlie and her ordinary life, the encounters with Memo, his awkwardness, shyness, thinking himself as something of a nerd? His approach to Charlie, her response, his becoming involved with her mission?
12. The parallels with ET? From the planet? Sharing life? Bonding? A sense of mission?
13. The series of adventures, the driving, the transformations, the Decepticons and the pursuit, their violence towards Bumblebee?
14. The Decepticons and their persuading the military about their good intentions? The promise of great communications and advances? Dr Powell and his enthusiasm? The work, Agent Burns and the general watching? The Decepticons achieving their end, destroying Dr Powell? Communicating with the other Decepticons, inviting them to earth?
15. Charlie‘s mother and her exasperation? Grounding Charlie? Charlie and her getting her brother to take responsibility? His giving the information? The pursuit in the car, the boyfriend and his skilful driving? Helping in the ultimate conflict?
16. Memo, his being involved, the driving, the attacks?
17. The buildup to the confrontations, the military, the defeat of the Decepticons? Burns changing his mind? Charlie and her achievement – and Memo and his help? The gratitude towards her family?
18. Laying a basis for further Transformer stories?
