Bumblebee

Name: Bumblebee
Item: Bumblebee
Rating: 3
Author: Sandie Angulo Chen

Movie review by

Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media

Parents recommendPopular with kids

Common Sense says

age 11+

(i)

Better-than-expected Transformers prequel is big on action.

PG-13
2018
113 minutes

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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 31 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 54 reviews

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We think this movie stands out for:

Character Strengths

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

Teamwork, friendship, family bonds are all promoted. Charlie and Bumblebee befriend each other/bond, show that not all Transformers should be prejudged. Bumblebee's voice demonstrates power of music to communicate.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Charlie is enterprising, intelligent, resourceful. She does hide Bumblebee's existence from her family, but she's patient, gives Bumblebee the benefit of the doubt, getting to know him, helping him. She and Memo are courageous, selfless, risking safety to rescue, support Bumblebee. Charlie's mother, stepfather, little brother are concerned, encouraging; when things get dangerous, they don't shy away from helping her. Villains are clearly delineated as bad guys.

Violence

Opening sequence shows Transformers' civil war on Cybertron: They use their weapons on one another, blasting, shooting. On Earth, soldiers (and civilians) see a ball of fire crash, with Transformers emerging. Soldiers fire on Bumblebee, who runs but doesn't retaliate -- unlike Decepticons, who start firing upon humans. Additional, similar scenes of Transformers fighting each other, humans. In one sequence, Bumblebee is tortured. Charlie and Memo are thrown about, hurt but not seriously injured. When Transformers kill humans with one particular weapon, it turns them into clear goo (happens a couple of times).

Sex

Charlie and Memo hold hands, kiss on the cheek; he's obviously interested in her. She asks him to take off his shirt for an experiment, not romance.

Language

Infrequent use of words including "s--t," "damn," "hell," "ass," "crap," "freaking," "shoot," "shut up." Exclamations like "oh my God."

Consumerism

On camera: Volkswagen, Sony, Atari, Camaro, BMW, Ford, Corvette, Scope, Fritos, Tab. Several bands/artists mentioned or shown on merchandise: Elvis Costello, The Smiths, Sam Cooke, Simple Minds/The Breakfast Club, etc. Off camera, there's a ton of Transformers/Hasbro-related merchandise, from toys themselves to video games, apparel, more.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Bumblebee is a Transformers universe prequel that's set in 1987 and stars Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie, a gearhead teen who finds a yellow VW Bug that's actually the titular Autobot. This tween-friendly adventure features slightly less violence, language, and sex (the romance is downplayed and positively chaste) than its predecessors. That said, there are still big fight scenes between Transformers and between Transformers and humans; weapons are used (one reduces humans to a clear goo), there's explosive destruction, and Bumblebee is tortured. Language includes a few uses of "damn" and "s--t"; refreshingly for the series, there are no crass or sexist jokes. Charlie is a surprisingly nuanced and courageous lead character, and the movie has clear themes of teamwork and friendship.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byZiggyz January 4, 2019

age 14+

Beware of language

I wish I had done my research before allowing my children to watch this movie. I was actually the family member pushing to see it. I liked how the trailers sh... Continue reading

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Adult Written byProulxmama4 April 7, 2019

age 8+

Some language, but overall great!

I have 4 boys ages 4-13 so it is VERY challenging to find movies that make everyone happy without being too intense for the littlest! We are pretty strict about... Continue reading

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Teen, 15 years old Written byShowman movie13 September 8, 2019

age 10+

Good, exciting, and action-packed

I kind-of-loved-this movie. It is really an ok movie. This is a more kiddy Transformer movie. Still intense. Some language. I think this is a more a family movi... Continue reading

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Teen, 17 years old Written byUndots May 21, 2019

age 9+

Bumblebee a movie

Bumblebee is really good movie. There is a definition of friendship (Charlie Watson & Bumblebee). A definition of duty of humanity, a duty of a soldier... Continue reading

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What's the story?

BUMBLEBEE starts during a civil war on the Transformers' home planet of Cybertron, where Autobot resistance leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) sends his young lieutenant, B-127 (Dylan O'Brien), on a mission to Earth to establish a base, protect the planet's inhabitants, and await their allies. But B-127 is followed by two Decepticons, who wound him and destroy his voice box. Later, in 1987 California, angsty Bay Area teen Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) finds an old yellow Volkswagen Beetle while scouring a junk yard on her 18th birthday. Charlie, who's still grieving her late father, fixes the rusty old VW, which quickly transforms back into a robot alien that Charlie names Bumblebee. As Charlie befriends Bumblebee and introduces him to her neighbor, Memo (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), two Decepticon enforcers land on Earth. Shatter (Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (Justin Theroux) convince government agents, including a reluctant John Cena and an awed John Ortiz, to collaborate in order to find the "dangerous" Bumblebee.

Is it any good?

The talented, expressive Steinfeld and a nuanced script elevate this prequel from "unnecessary" to "surprisingly poignant and entertaining." Comparisons between Bumblebee and E.T. are easy to draw, because Charlie nearly instantly connects with the voiceless, skittish alien. They bond over clips of '80s movies and music cassettes (he hilariously ejects The Smiths, one of her favorite, angsty bands, instead preferring radio jams that can speak for him). Charlie's sidekick is her adorkable neighbor, whom Lendeborg plays with sweet comedic sincerity. Their chemistry is cute, with only a hint of romance -- a much-needed change from the previous films.

Director Travis Knight, making his live-action debut and working from a script by Christina Hodson, helms the movie with a sensibility that mirrors the Laika films he's directed/produced (Kubo and The Boxtrolls): A lonely, grieving adolescent goes on an unexpected adventure, through which she learns about herself and her legacy. Knight might not have seemed like a natural fit for this live-action directing gig on the face of things, but it makes sense given his love of coming-of-age stories that feature particularly sensitive and brave young protagonists. Ultimately, there was no need for this prequel, but it's much better than expected, and the best (story wise) of the Transformers series to date.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the violence in Bumblebee. Is it more than, less than, or about what you expected? How does it compare to the violence in the other Transformers movies? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What are the other differences between this film and the other Transformers movies? What did you like about this installment? Do you want there to be more?
Do you consider any of the characters to be role models? What character strengths do they display? Why are teamwork and courage important?