7 / 10

“Transformers” is the latest Michael Bay film in which lots of things explode, lots of property is destroyed, and lots of expensive gasoline is burned up in car chases.

The film centers around Sam Witwicky (“Disturbia’s” Shia Lebeouf), whose father purchases an old beat-up Camaro to give him as his first car.

This kicks off some interesting teenage humor concerning Sam trying to win over Mikaela (Megan Fox), the girl of his dreams, by giving her a lift in his ride. Strangely, though, the Camaro seems to have a mind of its own, playing music that awkwardly narrates Sam’s mood.

It is not exactly ideal to have Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” randomly blast through your car speakers while you’re with a beautiful girl you just formally met.

Soon enough, it is discovered that Sam’s Camaro is actually part of a mechanical alien life force that has the ability to transform from automobiles and aircraft into massive robots of combat.

The Autobots, whose leader is Optimus Prime, are in favor of protecting the flawed human race and locating the cube in order to put a stop to the malicious Decepticons, who are commanded by the particularly gigantic Megatron and are bent on exploiting the planet’s inhabitants through death and slavery.

What sets “Transformers” apart from Michael Bay’s other endeavors is its first act has real heart and a genuine aura about it that doesn’t play out as a transparent, phony subplot.

Though we are subjected to dealing with many one note characters such as Anthony Anderson’s comical computer genius Glen Whitmann, and Jon Voight as the stern U.S. Secretary of Defense John Keller, Lebeouf carries the movie.

Sam is intriguing because his persona is built very carefully along a steady pace which makes the story likeable whether the popularized metal warriors make an appearance or not.

As the second half unravels, though, a certain carelessness dominates the film. Plot and substance take a back seat to colossal action scenes clogged with special effects.

The physical fighting between the Autobots and the Decepticons, which gets too old too fast, lacks major clarity and loses appeal. It is very hard to see what’s going on.

Eventually “Transformers” begins to feel like just another Michael Bay movie. There is good rising action that reaches an adrenaline fueled climax that obliterates everything, and leaves traces of a satisfactory resolution. This story seems to suggest that the end of a problem is met by the destruction of the evil doers by the saviors.

However, when their struggle ends the story does as well, leaving one mystery to remain unsolved. When the transformers come ravaging through city streets, smashing into building after the building, what happens to all the people working small office jobs?