Review - Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

To Transform Or Not To Transform

The Transformers films have hit (the first film) and missed (the second film) with me to this point. So, when I sat down for the third installment, Transformers: Dark of The Moon, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) has graduated college. He has paid his dues. Heck he has even gotten a medal from President Obama. So why can’t he get a job?

He can’t say word one about the fact that he has saved the world, but his appearance at the white house did get him one thing, his new girlfriend Carly (Rosie Hutington-Whiteley). While he struggles to find someone to take a chance on him, she is working for the very wealthy Dylan (Patrick Dempsey). This is a relationship that Sam has issues with but for now, despite what he has done, Carly is paying the bills.

We find out that an Autobot was launched from their home planet years ago and devastatingly crash landed on the moon. It was this crash landing that led to the space race to be the first to get to the moon and find out what has happened.

What they found were pieces of a portal that could open the door to this world through a means of teleportation. The Decepticons and the Autobots both would love to regain this technology, but who will be there first?

Hopefully this is a enough of a plot summary here, because the plot is not the important thing for this film. A loose plot is always nice to work with, but in the case of the Transformers films, it’s mostly about the action and there is lots of it here.

Director Michael Bay doesn’t waste much time with the small details. Why Sam has a new girlfriend, the ins and outs of the job he finally finds, they aren’t important and thus get glossed over. We are introduced to fun new characters like Jerry Wang (Ken Jeong) and Frances McDormand’s high-ranking government official. But don’t expect any details behind these characters; they are just a means to more Transformers action.

John Turturro could have been onscreen a lot more while providing the comic relief, same for Mcdormand and Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson are back, but seem forgotten. Did I mention John Malkovich has a role here as well? The actors are not the focus as we all know the stars are the cars that transform.

Seeing the film in 3D actually works. I found myself enjoying some of the depth that was present, and I have not been the biggest fan or the format. The action wlll leave you bleary eyed at times as it is fast and furious, especially as Chicago becomes the main battle ground.

The problem with the film that most fans will give it a pass on, the script is thin at best. Don’t try to connect the dots or put the pieces together. Your head my blow up if you do that. Fans will like the no-nonsense approach to the action. Critics will hate the lack of substance. You make the call; to transform or not to transform.

C+

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

Paramount Pictures

Director: Michael Bay

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Patrick Dempsey

Rating: PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo.

Runtime: 2 hours 37 minutes