Bumblebee - 3 smiles

Some franchises just keep on going with new iterations. Technically, "Bumblebee" is a prequel, but it's really the start for a new set of Transformer stories. So it sort of fits in with the Michael Bay Transformer series, but not really. Director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) focuses more on the human characters and their emotions and friendship over violence and special effects (although there's plenty of special effects robot-on-robot carnage). The movie starts with a short prologue set on the Transformers' home world of Cybertron, which has been torn apart by civil war. Sensing defeat, Optimus Prime evacuates his Autobots, sending them to different potential future bases for the resistance. For Bumblebee, this means Earth. His arrival isn't met with open arms, however. He is almost immediately attacked by a group of soldiers led by Burns (John Cena), whose furious attacks damage him. The situation becomes worse when Deceptions Shatter (voiced by Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (Justin Theroux) enter the fray. The critically wounded Bumblebee has no choice but to shut down and, in the shape of a yellow VW bug, he is left for scrap. Sometime later, 18-year-old Charlie (Hailee Seinfeld) finds him in a junkyard. After the owner gives her the car for her birthday, Charlie comes face-to-face with Bumblebee in her family's garage. The next few days are about getting to know one another as the Autobot becomes for Charlie what she lacks: a friend and confidante. Eventually, Shatter and Dropkick discover that Bumblebee isn't dead and they come after him.

Knight devotes a significant amount of the movie's running time to the development of the bond between Charlie and Bumblebee, something unheard of in the previous Transformer  movies. And Hailee Seinfeld's performance reveals layers of depth that are surprising given that she is performing against a green screen and not interacting with a real person. The movie works because of her performance. She is supported by Jason Drucker as her annoying younger brother Otis; Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as her neighbor and quasi-love interest, Memo; Pamela Arlon as her mother, Sally. The true co-star, however, is all CGI. Ultimately, "Bumblebee" is a well-paced science fiction action thriller with elements of drama, whimsy and a strong inter-species buddy element. And it's perfect for a rainy afternoon.