The newest chapter of the Transformers universe “Bumblebee” exceeded my expectations and set a new standard for the “robots in disguise”. Bumblebee, directed by Travis Knight, creates a truly fresh and fun take that I have been waiting for since the beginning. As soon as I thought Optimus Prime’s army of robot cars were no more, I immediately was opened up to a brand-new world of opportunities while watching Bumblebee.

At first glance, Bumblebee could be pushed away as another typical installment in the Transformers franchise. Michael Bay had created a franchise of movies that suffered from over-the-top action, meaningless plot, and repetitive tones. With Bumblebee, all of those typical constructs are flipped on their heads, and it leads to a refreshing and clean-cut movie. All of the fat is trimmed off, and we are left with a tight and fun journey.

Hailee Steinfeld brings a whole new element to the franchise. The relationship that she creates with Bumblebee is better than even Shia LeBeouf did in the original. John Cena plays a crazy but fleshed out commander, who is unrelenting but fun throughout the whole movie. It’s a great contrast from the previous villains who were typically boring and too brooding. There was a heavy emphasis on human connection, and that translated very well. All of the emotional buildups led to a satisfying conclusion, making the giant CGI battle a little more interesting, and the stakes even higher. Even though I knew exactly what was going to happen, it was still a really fun ride the entire time.

Setting the movie in the 80s was a fantastic choice. Resetting the cinematography and visuals for a whole new chapter was a wise choice that paid off. The 80s play a huge role, and almost take on its own qualities as a character in the film. The contrast of the high-level tech of the transformers, set against an 80s California backdrops keeps things interesting.

Bumblebee is a great ride. If you have given up on Transformers, I would advise you to check this one out. While sometimes typical, Hailee Steinfeld and cast came up with an excellent and fun movie to reinvigorate the Transformers franchise. I hope that this leads to a bright future for the franchise and that more action flicks take notes!