Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | 2023

The new Transformers movie lacks subtlety and attention to detail, which is not surprising considering it was produced by Michael Bay. However, it still manages to entertain to some extent, following the success of the previous film, Bumblebee. The return of Travis Knight’s stop motion animation is a positive aspect for Laika studios but a loss for the chaotic style associated with Bay. The introduction of a Hasbro Cinematic Universe in Rise of the Beasts doesn’t show much promise.

The film’s script, written by Joby Harold and four other credited writers, is filled with logical inconsistencies and lacks coherence. In a departure from the franchise’s usual robots, the Maximals, a group of warrior Transformers, now have hair and feathers, resembling Earth’s powerful beasts despite not being native to the planet. Ron Perlman voices Optimus Primal, an unironically named character who takes the form of a critically endangered western lowland gorilla. Michelle Yeoh voices Airazor, a Maximal in the shape of a peregrine falcon, and Tongayi Chirisa plays Cheetor, whose name gives away his form.

The opening act of the film is mind-numbing, featuring a battle between the Maximals and Scourge, led by Peter Dinklage, and his army of Terrorcon lackeys. They serve Unicron, a planet-consuming entity voiced unenthusiastically by Colman Domingo. Faced with certain defeat, the Maximals escape to Earth with a Transwarp Key, a vital object split into two pieces and hidden across the planet, reminiscent of the plot in the National Treasure movies.

The arrival of Anthony Ramos’ character, Noah Diaz, brings some improvement to the film. Despite being a thinly developed character, Ramos manages to make him likable. Noah is portrayed as skilled with electronics and a military reject due to his inability to work well in a team, although these traits are poorly established. He is caring towards his younger brother Kris, who has an undefined chronic illness. Another character, Elana, played by Dominique Fishback, is a museum researcher with inconsistent abilities and a limited characterization revolving around her lack of travel experience outside of Brooklyn. It is Elana’s tinkering that triggers the events that threaten the universe.

Overall, Rise of the Beasts is not a good film. The lack of stakes and genuine jeopardy hampers the audience’s engagement, and the visuals are unremarkable. The cinematography fails to capture the grandeur of Peru’s Aztec empire, and the final battle feels weightless and borrows from Avengers: Infinity War without delivering the same impact. Despite these flaws, the movie still provides mindless fun and includes some genuinely funny moments, such as jokes referencing former franchise star Mark Wahlberg and a suggestive gag involving Noah and one of the Autobots. However, these elements are not enough to inspire confidence in the future of the series, although they pair well with popcorn.