Critics Review: ‘Bumblebee’ Is the Best ‘Transformers’ Film Yet

The new film is a return to form for the franchise.

Film: Bumblebee
Director: Travis Knight
Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena

Read excerpts from reviews of Bumblebee here:

There’s no way to fix the sexualisation, the robotic mess, and the endless backstory expansion perpetuated by Bay in past entries, but Bumblebee does set the Transformers franchise on a promising new path, one that inevitable future instalments — multiple prequels and spin-offs are in development — could do well to learn from.

Akhil Arora, NDTV

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The ‘Transformers’ franchise has become synonymous with Michael Bay’s trademark bombastic action mayhem which bordered on the verge of being obnoxious, and often migraine-inducing. ‘Bumblebee’ immediately sets itself apart from that approach, aiming towards a character-driven narrative rather than chaotic set-pieces that stumble over themselves as things go boom. This isn’t to say the action is lacking – far from it! The fight sequences are easy to follow, and the CGI is practically seamless.

Neil Soans, Times of India

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Knight’s affection for the world of the Transformers - particularly for the toys that he grew up playing with - is palpable in his film. Certainly, it hits many of the same marks as Bay’s first movie - it could even be argued that Bumblebee is a better thought-out remake - but crucially, has an entirely different tone. A misfit teenager does stumble across a ramshackle, unwanted car; villains arrive on Earth like meteors from outer space; and cartoonish government agents chase everyone around - but on no occasion does someone get peed on, and there is not a single masturbation joke in sight.

Rohan Naahar, Hindustan Times

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Can a “Transformers” movie be good? It turns out the answer is yes — if the right talent is given enough leeway.The latest, “Bumblebee,” is the sixth in the franchise. As directed by Travis Knight, an animator who made his directorial debut with the striking 2016 animated film “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Bumblebee” is cleverly plotted, neatly allusive and has dialogue you can envision real people and, um, real Transformers speaking.  

Glenn Kenny, The New York Times

(Source: NDTV, Times of India, Hindustan Times, The New York Times)