A movie struggling with identity problems

Rating: 7/10 (23 June 2009)

Transformers 2 does not disappoint as a summer popcorn movie. It has all the ingredients for a summer blockbuster; a good fan base from the first movie, great special effects, and a popular cast. However, Transformers 2 was just a good movie and not a great movie, which it very well could have been.
The opening sequence is good and sets up the story quite nicely but the story that is set up does not get a chance to fully develop throughout the movie. The reason is because Michael Bay can't decide on what to focus on. Does he make this an action movie? A dramatic movie? An action/comedy? There are too many different movie elements in Transformers 2.
Some of the problems were the inclusion of too many low brow jokes in the movie. There is a scene involving Sam Witwicky's mother shortly after arriving at college that should not have been in the movie. It wasn't very funny and did not contribute to the advancement of the plot. These jokes throughout the movie take up screen time where dialogue explaining the plot and advancing the story should have been.
Transformers 2 builds on the stories from the history of the Autobots and Decepticons, but those stories are not sufficiently explained and too much has to be assumed. The stories still make some sense and does not make the plot confusing or impossible to follow, but it makes the story seem incomplete.
Where the first Transformers movie thrived on a strong story and good action scenes, Transformers 2 relies on just action scenes.
I did give this movie a 7 because the story was still good. The action scenes were enjoyable to watch and the acting was well done. Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson did great with their supporting roles as soldiers. It is easy for everyone to try to vie for the spotlight in such a big budget movie, but those two played their roles very well which is one of the reasons this movie was good.
Transformers 2 also uses many elements from the original television series and some from Transformers: The Movie (1986). That made the movie more enjoyable as it was more in tune with the Transformers many of the fans grew up with. Bumblebee is still a lovable robot and Optimus Prime is still everyone's favorite leader. Megatron and the Decpticons are still just as evil as we all remember and the transformation of the beloved 80's cartoon series to a live action big screen film is just as amazing as the first one.
Once you walk out of the theater a few things will stick in your mind. Optimus Prime is still a bad-ass and a terrific movie hero, the special effects were great and so were the action scenes, and Megan Fox is gorgeous. But, maybe the most important thing a movie should leave you imprinted with is not stuck in your mind and that is an intricate story that you want to see over and over again... maybe just twice, I know I'll probably see it again