Basic but brilliant
Steinfeld is the franchise’s finest human lead thus far and shares memorable chemistry with the titular Autobot; in different ways they are both outsiders who have had close family members taken away from them.
Kubo and the Two Strings director Travis Knight does an impressive job with his first live- action film, honouring Transformers fans with an nostalgic, old- school Bumblebee and Optimus Prime and rewarding wider audiences with a brighter colour palette so, unlike in previous series entries, it’s always clear who is fighting who.
The eighties setting was an inspired choice as it differentiates Bumblebee from its predecessors; the rock- fuelled soundtrack is brilliant – especially for this child of the era.
One or two scenes could’ve done with being left on the cutting room floor, and John Cena’s square- jawed Agent Burns is a generic presence who adds little.
But it’s nice just to touch upon minor quibbles in a Transformers flick and if the rest of the expansion of this universe is as infectiously entertaining as Bumblebee then long may it continue.
Searching ( 12)
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This heart- pounding thriller is packed with shocking twists, unbearable tension and a career- best turn from John Cho.
A clever script pulls the rug out from under your feet.
Twists and turns build up tension