Bigger Isn't Always Better

Rating: 6/10 (24 June 2009)

OK- we all know the story, we all know its based on a mediocre kids cartoon, so let us let that be our guiding perspective, shall we?
The 2nd installment is practically identical in formula to the 1st but amplified to the point of boredom. The jokes are more plentiful (especially from Sam's mom who steals every scene),more cute pets (Mojo humps a Boston terrier), the girls are more sexy (gratuitous rear end shots, and slow-motion chest bouncing, and even a strip scene), the explosions are well uh.. more explosive, more Autobots, more story-telling based on the Autobot's history, more chase and battle scenes, improved audio FX.
Skip this paragraph to avoid spoiler. Instead of the all-spark being the threat its now a machine left here by the "fallen" in 1700 BC. Sam, having touched the all-spark, has the location of the doomsday device embedded his brain that can only be deciphered by an historic Autobot who has been deactivated in the form of a stealth fighter in a aerospace museum. Who wants the location? You guessed it, the Deceptigons and they are ruthless in their methods of obtaining it.
With all of this we get less character involvement, drawn out battles that play out way too long, and a rushed epilogue. Not a bad movie in any sense but numbing to the point of boredom due to relentless and protracted action. Some clever writing and story telling from a film of THIS genre, it carefully avoids clichés and sappiness, and posing is kept to a safe minimum, but a good 20 minute time trim would have helped enormously.