Optimus Prime and the Autobots take on their biggest challenge yet. When a new threat capable of destroying the entire planet emerges, they must team up with a powerful faction of Transformers known as the Maximals to save Earth.
Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Cast: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Liza Koshy, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Pete Davidson, Peter Cullen, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov
Release Date: June 9, 2023
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language
Runtime: 2h 7m
Transformers: Rise of the Beast, the seventh installment in the franchise, is an admirable attempt to bring the original cartoon to life. Its story is significantly larger in scope than 2018's Bumblebee which delivered a much-needed reset from Michael Bay's orgy of metallic explosions, undercooked characters and plots which rarely focused on the titular robots. This film expands on the groundwork Bumblebee in just about every way and it gives some of the Transformers, Prime and Mirage in particular, real character arches to work with. Those story arches aren't incredibly nuanced, but they do give the characters even footing with their human counterparts something that Bay only gave passing consideration. As a result, this is the first film that allows Peter Cullen's Optimus Prime to come to the screen with some noticeable depth. Pete Davidson is surprisingly good as the voice of Mirage, who plays more like a hybrid of Jazz and Cliffjumper from the original series than his namesake aside from his ability to project holograms. Davidson's performance is fun but also heartfelt in parts which makes the character more likable than if he was solely used for comic relief. Michelle Yeoh manages to add some gravitas to her character even if it is a bit funny to hear her voice coming out of a giant robot hawk. Sadly, the rest of voice cast isn't given much to do outside of deliver exposition.
Ron Perlman and Peter Dinklage in particular get the short end of the stick with paper thin characters that could have been much more memorable. Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback make up the human side of the cast with mixed results. Ramos seems perfectly at ease working with the greenscreen madness as he's clearly having a ball throughout which makes him a likable lead. Fishback on the other hand comes off a bit more lost and plays her character a bit too broad in spots. That being said, they are fun together especially in a Peru set action set piece as they chase the movie's McGuffin which leads to the final act. Steven Caple Jr. energetic direction keeps everything moving at a steady pace and delivers some well choregraphed and coherent action sequences even if they still rely on a bit too much slow motion for my taste. He smartly uses the 90's setting to his advantage with a fun soundtrack that sure to make people of a certain age smile. The overall plot does set up a major villain and possible crossover which gives you the impression that this film is setting up an even larger follow up. Transformers: Rise of the Beast does plenty right especially for people who grew up with the cartoon and it works well as a big budget blockbuster that the whole family can enjoy.
B
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