It might seem slightly ridiculous that “Transformers” is a movie based on a line of Hasbro toys, but it’s true, and director Michael Bay obviously understood that when making the film.
Thankfully, instead of taking itself way too seriously for its own good, “Transformers” plays a balancing act between taking itself seriously and poking fun at itself (and others).
This means that the movie is both action packed and genuinely funny at the same time – just what one expects from a summer blockbuster action movie. It’s pure mindless entertainment, and really, that’s the way it should be.
Shia LaBeouf stars as Sam Witwicky, an unpopular high-schooler who unwittingly gains possession of a Transformer as his first car, and who unknowingly holds the secret to ending the war between the two races of Transformer robots: Autobots and Decepticons.
Unlike some action movies, the plot in “Transformers” actually matters. If you don’t understand the plot, chances are you’re not going to understand most of the movie. Some prior knowledge of the Transformers universe is nice, too, but not necessary.
What really matters, though, is the action and, of course, the cars. In case you didn’t already know, the Transformers can choose which vehicles they want to look like, and the Autobots have impeccable taste in choosing their car forms. Even as a non-car fan, it’s easy to be awestruck at the amazing cars chosen for the film.
Also awesome are the movie’s intense actions sequences, which are spaced all throughout the movie. The computer-generated Transformers are amazingly realistic and move so fluidly that it never comes to mind that they’re fake. The robots’ transformations are so well done that when a helicopter transforms itself early in the film, it’s impossible to tell the difference between the real helicopter and the CGI version.
And since it’s a Michael Bay film, there are plenty of explosions and plenty of destruction to go along with the Transformers’ battles.
The only downside to all the action is that at times it can become hard to follow. When two huge robots are duking it out on-screen, their metallic colors blend together and the blurred look of their fast-paced motions makes them difficult to see well. When a whole group of robots is battling in the middle of a city, it becomes slightly difficult to keep track of who’s good, who’s bad and who’s even still in the battle.
That said, the action isn’t always hard to follow, but it is always intense. And why shouldn’t it be? If you’re going to see a movie about warring robots that transform into cars, helicopters and jets, you’re going to be expecting some kick-ass action and plenty of eye candy (whether it’s the film’s human or robot stars).
“Transformers” delivers, giving this summer’s moviegoers a perfect popcorn flick to enjoy from the air-conditioned comfort of the theater.
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