Transformers

Star of TV’s Even Stevens series, 23 year old Shia LaBeouf has been busy climbing the ranks. And it shows. Even after Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Eagle Eye, you can expect great things from this young man.

Director Michael Bay wisely uses him to carry the emotional context of Transformers. LaBeouf’s teenage character is the one to express shock, doubt and fear, despite two other comely ladies.

The secondary actors are mainly ignored in this flick, but that is just one of many, many flaws in this picture. There is way too much annoying voice-over. The character of the good robots, and point of view, develops far too late in the film. The comedy relief doesn’t work. The trials and tribulations of male teenagers is mildly assuming. Yet all this gets in the way of a Jerry Bruckheimer style loud crashing chase flick. Yet despite the unbelievable plot, the lack of depth and the non-stop clanging, this is one enjoyable action movie.  

With only a dozen movies to his credit, Bay is already noted for The Island, Bad Boys 1 and II, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon and The Rock. The last two are some of my all time favorite movies. This man knows action. And it shows. Non stop metal against metal pounding, blasting and thumping lifts this convoluted child’s tale of good versus bad robots above the merely ridiculous.

Suspend belief. Ignore the faults. This is no Spiderman. This is Terminator meets Gremlins. Sit back, enjoy.