“Bumblebee” (** out of four) was a middling spin-off of “The Transformers” series set in the ’80’s about a girl (Hailee Steinfeld) who on the eve of turning 18 discovers the battle-scarred and broken Bumblebee who she doesn’t realize is a transformer and this attracts the attention of a villainous military general (Jon Cena). Director Travis Knight infuses this with more heart and soul than any of Michael Bay’s noisy headaches but story gets too lumpy and it starts to go flat in its second half although it revs up again for a solid finale in which Bumblebee and the Decepticon Blitzwing battle it out. Kudos to a great soundtrack of ’80’s music and Steinfeld’s strong performance is a definite plus.