Bumblebee: All you need to know about the Transformers spin-off starring Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena

Bumblebee, the beloved yellow Transformer from the globally recognised franchise, gets his own movie as it finally hits theatres across India this Friday.

The film, which premiered in Berlin on 3 December and released in the US on 21 December, has received positive reviews from the critics, some even calling it the “ best Transformers movie ” till date.

Directed by Travis Knight and starring Hailee Steinfeld, Bumblebee is a prequel to 2007’s Transformers, centered on the affable Autobot. So, here’s everything else you need to know about the film:

What’s the Transformers story so far?

Transformers, which debuted as a TV show in 1984, featured battling robots in disguise, with names such as Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee and Override. They could convert into vehicles such as tanks, fire trucks, jet fighters and helicopters. The popular cartoon and toy franchise was transformed into a live-action film in 2007 by director Michael Bay, screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and executive producer Steven Spielberg.

Starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, the explosive saga began with a story about shape-shifting cars, which morph into “autobots” that fight the evil “decepticons” who want to control Earth. In the 2007 movie, the decepticons got thrashed in the final battle but, of course, came back to avenge their losses in four mostly disastrous films - Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Dark of the Moon (2011), Age of Extinction (2014) and The Last Knight (2017).

Where does Bumbleebee fit in? What’s the story?

Bumblebee is the sixth instalment of the live-action Transformers movies, and is set as a prequel to 2007’s original Transformers. It looks like a sweet story about a misfit teenage girl (played by Steinfeld) and a robot that is more E.T. than Michael Bay.

Set outside San Francisco in 1987, where the loyal B-127 Autobot has been sent to protect Earth and prepare the groundwork for the franchise (He’ll befriend Shia LaBeouf at the start of the first film.) Badly hurt while battling two evil tracking Decepticons, he loses his voice and memories. Then he disguises himself as a vintage Volkswagen Bug and waits for deliverance in a salvage yard (not unlike the entire Transformers universe).

He is discovered by goth-y misfit Charlie Watson (Steinfeld), who drives off with the junked VW that has a whole bunch of secret options. Despite discovering that the car is, in fact, an alien, she feels a kinship to this mute metal giant with expressive eyes, calling him Bumblebee. He, too, is unheard, but learns to communicate using word snippets he hears on the radio. How Wilson and Bumblebee end up helping each other in times of crisis forms the crux of the plot.

Is it any different from the other Transformers movies? What do the reviews say?

Bumblebee has something the Michael Bay films never had: good reviews. It has earned positive reception from around the world courtesy its humane story at the core of the film — boasting more emotions than explosions. Of course, a tribute to its parent films, the film has every bit of its signature hi-end VFX, thrilling car chases and action sequences but it focuses on the bond of friendship between the teenaged Charlie Wilson and the alien robot B-127 or Bumblebee.

Who all are in it?

Steinfeld plays the role of a headstrong vulnerable teenager Charlie, who befriends the affable autoboot Bumblebee in this Travis Knight-directed film. John Cena plays the hardened Lieutenant Jack Burns, who holds a grudge against the Transformers. The film also features Jorge Lendeborg Jr, John Ortiz, Jason Drucker and Pamela Adlon.

(With inputs from agencies)