Transformers: revenge of the fallen

Jun 17 2009 Surrey Herald

The robots are back for the second round of this 80s TV favourite, writes KATE SOLOMON

FAST cars that turn into fifty-foot robots, wise-cracking parents, over-friendly dogs and Megan Fox ... it can mean only one thing: Transformers are back in town.

Having been discovered in the first film, the Autobots - alien robot life-forms - live and work in tandem with the United States military as part of a top secret department. Transforming from shiny automobiles into enormous, gun-toting weapons of mass destruction at will, the Autobots fight crime and rogue Decepticons (bad transformers) alongside the soldiers.

Meanwhile, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBoeuf) is off to college and in denial of his former life as discoverer of the

Autobots and defeater of Megatron, the biggest and baddest Decepticon of all. "I just want to be normal," he moans to his Hollywood-grade girlfriend (Megan

Fox) and his sporty yellow Chevrolet Camaro, which also happens to be his Autobot pet/protector, Bumblebee.

But normal normal isn't really an option as during his first class, Sam discovers that his brain has absorbed ancient Autobot information which the Decepticons are quite keen on extracting. The information will help them to restore 'The Fallen' with the ultimate aim - naturally - of blowing up the sun.

'The Fallen' is not, as you would be forgiven for thinking, a renegade group of defeated robots. No, he's the original Decepticon who turned away from the Autobots and turned Megatron bad, a narrative device that owes plenty to Star Wars; The Fallen is to Megatron as the Emperor is to Darth Vader.

So Sam teams up with his old Autobot pals, not to mention the plethora of new ones that will be keeping the toy shelves stacked, to romp around the globe attempting to foil the Decepticon's plans.

In case it hadn't already been made clear, this film is really quite silly. The plot has more holes than a colander, the acting is just about passable and the script is entirely without grace. But no one goes to see a film like Transformers for its clever wordplay. It's massive robots battling it out with turbo-charged gun power and a sprinkling of Megan Fox that audiences want. And, happily, that's exactly what they will get.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is an orgy of destruction from beginning to end. Tireless sequences of metal smashing against metal, gears crunching and buildings crumbling seem never-ending. Nothing is safe; people, forests, ancient structures, slums, hirises and more are destroyed in the robots quest to blow each other up. The animation is impressive, and while the battles themselves are so fast and loud that they're difficult to follow, you'll always get the general gist.

It's a real shame that the vaguely comedic moments aren't funnier, despite a sterling turn from Rainn Wilson (The Office: An American Workplace fame) as an over-sexed college lecturer. Jamming as much destruction and noise as possible into the film should have been tempered with better character development - perhaps then those tear-jerker scenes would not have fallen so short of the mark. Definitely one to see on the big screen, there's plenty here to keep adrenaline junkies and robot fans satisfied. But if you're looking for a gripping narrative or characters that will move you, steer well clear.