Transformers: Blockbuster in disguise

Michael Bay redeems himself after disaster Pearl Harbour

WILLIAM O’DONNELL

The foremost thing I must confess before starting: I am a major Transformers fan. Said fanaticism dates back to my spawning in the mid-80s when I was first given used (and often broken) toys purchased at inner-city flea markets and second-hand stores. This is about two decades of baggage to take into such a film, but I did so with vigour and seething anticipation.

Transformers is capitalism and consumerism run amuck. Product placement has tattooed itself into almost every scene of this film. Granted, this is a common trend in Hollywood; and we are dealing with the two most successful “sell-outs” in Hollywood (Michael Bay as director, and Steven Spielberg as producer). Said placement becomes ridiculous as the products manage to become living characters. One sequence in particular sees a GM vehicle, an XBOX 360 (game console) and a Mountain Dew vending machine all turn into Transformers and “run amuck.”

All of this may seem to be cause for concern, but fan-boys and moviegoers alike, rejoice! Bay has pulled through and created both a fitting tribute for the nostalgia-crazed fans of 1980s Transformers, as well as those inhaling popcorn while seeking out the best blockbuster of the summer. This “buzz-type” speech all sounds like a promo from the likes of Entertainment Tonight or Star!, but I’m sincere.

Bay, as a director, is certainly a selective taste; but I felt confident with him doing this film. I predicted the film would have corny dialogue, stale relationships, and mind-blowing action sequences. I was largely right, if not a bit surprised by some of the actors. As typical as many of the characters can be in this film (they managed to squeeze in a token black stereotype into both the human and robot categories), I was personally satisfied with most of the cast, especially by John Tuturro’s purposeful hamming (glad to see actors still having fun with their roles), the smirking of Bernie Mac (I see a trend here) and even the mild cheesiness of Kevin Dunn and Julie White who played the parents of our lead, human character Sam (Shia LaBeouf). These two managed to be entertaining during an overly long scene where the Autobots (good alien robots) are searching Sam’s place for a pair of highly significant (and sturdy, might I say) glasses.

The movie kicks off with promises of its best components: Peter Cullen (the original voice of Optimus Prime in the ’80s cartoon series) reprising his role and narrating the opening scene, to the joy of countless fans.

From there we get a balance of intense military intelligence drama, as the government tries to figure out what attacked them, along with the suburban tale of a young boy trying to impress girls by getting his first car. Bay should not have been scared to go more serious with this film, for the best portions are the drama and the action sequences. Perhaps it just seems that way because the story of Sam (the boy) is a bit too cute and goofy at times, and even manages to make the Autobots look a bit lame in their actions . . . the visual graphics are top-notch, don’t worry. Thankfully, all of this is erupted by the end and we’re left with nothing but robot versus robot action.

It would seem that the makers could not decide whether to avoid seriousness for fear of becoming campy, or to play to it by adding overt gags. The scoring by Steve Jablonsky was good and the warring portions with nothing but battle sounds all played out well until horribly trendy emo-ish rock music would kick in and spoil any sincerity.

Granted, this review comes from the perspective of a bonafide “fan-boy.” But my bias comes in handy. Had Bay made a mockery of something I adore, I’d be dangerously genuine and impulsive with my response. My overall point: he didn’t. It took me two viewings to settle down, but I was able to see that the man responsible for about twenty minutes of spectacular action in Pearl Harbour (and three-quarters of garbage in the same film) has churned out something worthwhile, as far as blockbusters go at least.

Moviegoers: get a big bucket of popcorn because two and a half hours is a long time, and it is a very noisy and bumpy ride. Transformer geeks? I’ll see you there at my third viewing.