If you ask why I watched Bumblebee after seeing and detesting so many Transformers movies, I am not sure I have a good answer. It could be just because there wasn’t a whole lot else out there that looked good or I haven’t already seen. It could be because I was just finally hoping the franchise could turn out a good film.

Maybe it was because I really like Hailee Steinfield (The Edge of Seventeen, True Grit, 3 Days to Kill.) She did a fine job but there were so many things wrong with this film.

The story started out looking like it was going to be compelling but it quickly shifted into a campy tale that asked viewers to remove their brains and fall for a scared Volkswagen Beetle. Every character was a caricature of a stereotype. There was nothing real or engaging in this whole film… except for the real battle to stay awake.

Was it worth watching? Not really.

by Chris Doelle

RATING 4 out of 10