The “Bumblebee” standalone movie is finally here! Transformers fans, get ready for a different kind of Transformers movie than you’ve seen before. It is a love letter to long-time fans of the series.

First and foremost, I enjoyed the movie because Bumblebee is my favorite Transformer. (Isn’t he everybody’s???)

This movie is definitely more story driven, as opposed to the Michael Bay days when digital effects and CGI were king. There are pros and cons.

The effects are still there, but there are far fewer Transformers in this movie than in past inceptions. For me being an action movie kinda girl, I would have liked to see more Transformers.

This movie is definitely much more focused on the relationships between the characters and the story. It gave the machines that we have seen in the previous movies some heart. Some fans are going to love that, while others may want more action.

Both main stars did a respectable job. Dylan O’Brien, known for his role at Stiles in the 2011 “Teen Wolf” series and Thomas in “The Maze Runner,” voices the iconic and lovable title character. Academy Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld plays the role of the emotionally damaged Charlie, who befriends Bumblebee.

Finally, 80s  music fans–this soundtrack is going to make you want to sing along during the movie. The soundtrack definitely gets a thumbs up.

This will be a fun movie to go to see over the holiday weekend to enjoy with visiting family.