An Above Average Sequel

Rating: 9/10 (4 July 2011)

"Transformers" movies can get away with a lot more than most movies. After all, they are cinematic adaptations about a line of extraterrestrial alien robot toys originally made by the Japanese! In 1984, the American toy manufacturer Hasbro obtained the rights to the figures and called them "Transformers." Twenty-six years later, the "Transformers" remain incredibly popular! As the "Transformers" grew in popularity, they became comic book, television show, and cinematic sensations. Doesn't it tell you something about America when the movie that sells the most tickets features computer-generated versions of humanoid robots? Primarily, the "Transformers" movies are all about spectacle. Measured by this standard, the new "Transformers" movie in 3-D is stupendous. Director Michael Bay's third installment in the franchise "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" isn't as obnoxiously farcical as "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." Instead, this threquel emerges as a little darker than the second movie.
This sequel cleverly rewrites history to accommodate its outlandish plot. The war between the Autobots and the Decepticons on the planet Cybertron is drawing to an end when the Autobots launch the Ark. This craft transports a secret cargo known as the Pillars which could enable the good guys to defeat the villains. Unfortunately, the Decepticons blast the Autobot spacecraft, but they don't destroy the vessel. Little do the Decepticons know that the crippled Ark, flown by Autobot leader Sentinel Prime, crashes on the dark side of the Moon when the Cold War is heating up between the United States and the Soviet Union. President John F. Kennedy vows to put a man on the Moon, but secretly he wants the U.S. to beat the Soviets to the mysterious crash site. During the Apollo 11 landing in 1969, NASA gives astronauts Neil Armstrong (Don Jeanes) and Buzz Aldrin (Cory Tucker) about twenty minutes to explore the Ark without letting anybody on Earth--primarily the Soviets--know about it. Armstrong and Aldrin as well as later Apollo missions stockpile artifacts and pictures from the Ark, but nobody knows how to make the best use of them.
The scene shifts to the present. Colonel Lennox (Josh Duhamel) and the Autobots are continuing to track down and eliminate the remaining Decepticons. When they visit the notorious Chernobyl disaster site, Autobots Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) and Ratchet (Robert Foxworth) uncover fuel cells from the Ark. Actually, the Soviets tried to harness the power of these fuel cells and their efforts triggered the infamous meltdown. As they are investigating Chernobyl, Lennox and the Autobots encounter the Decepticon known as Shockwave (Frank Welker) and another Decepticon. Later, the Autobots confront Secretary of Defense Charlotte Mearing (Frances McDormand) and learn that the Moon race was an effort to recover as much as America could from the Ark. The Autobots fly to the moon. Not only do they find the body of Sentinel Prime in hibernation, but also five Pillars. After Optimus revives Sentinel, his old comrade turns on him and joins a horribly disfigured Megatron and the Decepticons. Sentinel plans to use the Pillars to enslave earthlings. Naturally, like a vintage Republic serial of the 1940s, the Decepticons come to within a hairsbreadth of winning. Not surprising, the architect of their defeat is none other than Sam Witwicky.
Life hasn't been kind to Sam since "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." Although he has graduated from college and received a Medal of Honor from President Obama, Sam hasn't been able to find a job. As "Dark of the Moon" opens, our frustrated hero is shacked up and living off the generosity of his latest girlfriend, Carly Spencer (newcomer Rosie Huntington-Whitely), while struggling to get a job before his mom and dad arrive in Washington, D.C. If this weren't bad enough, Sam has to contend with Carley's wealthy boss, Dylan Gould (a smarmy Patrick Dempsey) who owns a huge accounting firm as well as his own auto museum. Ironically, Gould helps Sam land a job in the mail room of an aerospace, telecommunications conglomerate. While making his deliveries, Sam bumps into a giddy Asian-American co-worker, Jerry Wang (Ken Jeong of "The Hangover"), who recognizes Sam and warns him about an imminent Decepticon attack. Sam approaches Defense Secretary Mearing, but she doesn't believe him. Later, she realizes Sam has legitimate information. During a slam-bang finale in Chicago, which supercharges the last hour of this lengthy two hour and thirty minute epic, Sam and his old cronies deal the Decepticons another devastating defeat.
"Arlington Road" scenarist Ehren Kruger and Bay have added some new Autobot and Decepticons to enliven the action. The surprises are few and far between, but the best one is Leonard Nimoy. Indeed, Mr. Spock of "Star Trek" fame furnishes the voice for legendary Autobot leader Sentinel Prime. Oscar winner Frances McDormand joins the cast as a powerful National Security honcho who abhors being addressed as "m'am." Sexy Abercrombie & Fitch model Rosie Huntington-Whitely replaces sultry Megan Fox. Huntington-Whitely looks like a Keira Knightley clone. Patrick Dempsey plays the slimy, cynical human villain who aligns himself with the Decepticons, while John Malkovich pops ups in a brief supporting role as a corporate big wig. Meanwhile, virtually everybody else reprises their original roles, including Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, and Glenn Morshower. One of the coolest things in "Dark of the Moon" is the glider suits that military deploy in to fly into a combat zone. The liveliest action set-piece takes place in a skyscraper that is about to collapse as Decepticons pursue our heroes throughout it.
As usual these noisy "Transformers" movies amount to morality lessons. They laud the value of freedom over tyranny, unity between mankind and aliens, and the necessity for a strong military. These toy movies display more red, white, and blue patriotism than most movies and put on the kind of show that would gratify a recruiting officer's heart. The "Transformers" movies resemble recruiting posters for reckless, adventure-loving lads who want to hurl themselves into the breach.