The people over at Paramount had pure intentions for the newest instalment in the Transformers series. They embarked on what some have called a "new strategy" for the new film, Bumblebee. By new strategy, they mean making an enjoyable, emotional and well-written movie. Unfortunately, critical acclaim is not where the blockbuster's bread is buttered. Even though the movie's sitting at a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes (they say that "Bumblebee proves it's possible to bring fun and a sense of wonder back to a bloated blockbuster franchise"), the movie is set to make an estimated $22 million this weekend. For some context, the last one made $605.4 million, which was already low for the series (that one got 15%). Unfortunately, the winning strategy is clear for a franchise like Transformers: give Michael Bay a blank check, a star like Shia LaBeouf or Marky Mark and let him go nuts.
Read the synopsis and watch the trailer for Bumblebee:
On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.