“Autobots, roll out!” —Optimus Prime
Today’s quick review: Transformers. High-school junior Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) gets the chance to impress Mikaela (Megan Fox) when his parents let him buy a used Camaro for his first car. But the car turns out to be Bumblebee, a robotic alien who came to Earth to recover a powerful energy source called the Allspark. Now Sam must work with Bumblebee and the other Autobots to locate the Allspark before the Decepticons can claim it for themselves.
Transformers is a sci-fi action movie from director Michael Bay. Adapted from the Transformers toy line, the movie chronicles the battle between two factions of robotic aliens, the Autobots and the Decepticons, as they search for an artifact that could conquer the planet. True to Michael Bay’s other movies, Transformers features larger-than-life action and impressive special effects. However, its odd tone and haphazard plot hold it back.
Transformers’ greatest appeal is its action. The premise involves giant robots that can transform into everyday vehicles, and the action scenes make full use of this capability. The fights are flashy and destructive, with plenty of slow-motion and robotic violence. One slight drawback is that the action scenes tend to rely on the same tricks over and over again, but they make up for it with the variety of Transformer designs and settings.
Still, Transformers has a few issues that make it an uneven watch. The movie leans heavily on lowbrow comedy that ranges from amusing to awkward. The story is prone to long tangents that don’t actually advance the story, and the cast is larger than it needs to be given how little they accomplish. Visually, the complicated designs of the Transformers make the action hard to track, putting a damper on otherwise enjoyable fight scenes.
Transformers is a fun pick when you’re in the mood for some popcorn action. It makes a few missteps with its plot, its humor, and some of its visuals, but none of these are enough to ruin its entertaining premise and high-octane action. Anyone willing to roll with its eccentricities will find it to be a shallow but enjoyable watch. Those looking for a more coherent story or more artful visuals may want to approach with caution.
For an updated take on roughly the same premise, check out Bumblebee. For a sci-fi action movie featuring battles with giant robots, try Pacific Rim. For another all-out action movie from Michael Bay, try Armageddon.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for large-scale popcorn action and uneven execution.