'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' Review: Seventh Installment Surprisingly has a Solid Spark
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
PG-13: Intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language
Runtime: 2 Hours and 9 Minutes
Production Companies: Skydance Media, Hasbro, New Republic Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures, Bay Films
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Writers: Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber
Cast: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez, Tobe Nwigwe, Dean Scott Vazquez, Peter Cullen, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, Cristo Fernández, John DiMaggio, Ron Perlman, Michelle Yeoh, Favid Sobolob, Tongayi Chirisa, Peter Dinklage, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Colman Domingo
Release Date: June 9, 2023
In Theaters Only
Paramount’s Transformers film franchise has had one hell of a track record since Michael Bay directed its first installment back in 2007. As the franchise went on, it grew rustier with each entry. In 2018, Travis Knight of Laika explored his live-action filmmaker game and blessed the series with a new engine through Bumblebee. Everyone, from critics to moviegoers, was united in shock, saying, “Wait, this is good?! These could’ve been good the whole time?" Now that Transformers finally found a fresh all-spark, a new mainline non-Bay Transformers entry didn’t sound so bad! Yet, the latest installment, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, had me missing Michael Bay a bit.
Set in Brooklyn in 1994, ex-military expert Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) turns to auto theft to support his mom (Luna Lauren Vélez) and little brother (Dean Scott Vazquez). While Noah is out stealing a car, Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) calls for all Autobots to assemble. The car Noah drives reveals itself to be a holographic-producing wise-cracking Autobot named Mirage (Pete Davidson). He takes Noah to a meetup spot where Bumblebee, Arcee (Liza Koshy), and leader Optimus Prime plan a heist to retrieve a Transwarp Key that will send them back to their home planet Cybertron. Mirage convinces a human-hating Optimus Prime to have Noah aid them on their quest. Noah learns that if the key is activated, the planet-sized, planet-eating transformer Unicron (Colman Domingo) will be unleashed and devour Earth. Unicron’s henchmen, the Terrorcons, led by Scourge (Peter Dinklage), are also in a race to retrieve the key. At a museum, the Autobots join archaeologist-wannabe Elena (Dominique Fishback). They also meet Airazor (Michelle Yeoh), a falcon Maximal who takes them to Peru to meet her leader Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman). Together, humans, Maximals, and Autobots must defeat the Terrorcons and get the Autobots back home without Earth becoming Unicron’s dinner.
Following Bumblebee’s footsteps, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts drops the destruction-oriented sensibilities and tells a Transformers tale attuned to its cartoon counterparts’ spirit. The story follows the quintessential Transformers blueprint we’ve seen countless times: characters must globe-trot to retrieve a plot device that will prevent an Earth-threatening event. Working in its favor is its focused plotting, which—by Transformers standards—is a godsend. The film's five screenwriters avoid overwriting the lore in a serialized tone. Instead, they loosen its metallic nails, making it as fun as other PG-13 family-oriented action flicks, like Dungeons & Dragons.
Maybe my Brooklyn biases took over, but Noah Diaz is leagues ahead of other Transformers human allies like Cade Yeager and Sam Witwicky. After freaking out over the Autobots, Diaz puts on that Brooklyn boricua swag, showing a warrior spirit that matches the badass bots. The charismatic and humorous performance of Anthony Ramos adds credibility to both the Diaz and Transformers counterparts, particularly Mirage. Diaz and Mirage share a strong bromantic relationship full of hilarious banter and well-developed emotional beats. As shocking as it might sound (with NYC fuckbois Pete Davidson and Anthony Ramos at the wheel), their heartfelt camaraderie gets a lot of mileage.
I also like the other Brooklyn-based human character, Elena, primarily her position as the genius guide for the Autobots without forcing a romance between her and Noah. Fishback, a captivating talent, is under-utilized, providing exposition rather than participating in the action. Nevertheless, it’s refreshing to see an independent genius Black woman included in a franchise that only sees women as trophies.
The film prospers from how it frames the Autobot vs. human relationship, centering on Prime's relationship with Earth. Optimus Prime and Noah mirror each other: headstrong beings sharing a common goal of protecting their families/home worlds while putting others on the line. Optimus Primal sets a loud rebuttal to their ideologies.
For this being the Maximals’ big screen debut, they arrive with some of the best designs in a Transformers movie. The VFX artists at Moving Picture Company and Weta (taking over ILM) find inventive ways of combining animalistic and robotic features, making each Maximal stand out. It’s also cool when the Maximals “maximize” from their animal design to their two-legged battle forms.
Narratively speaking, this is the Transformers movie we deserved eons ago. Direction-wise, Rise of the Beasts leaves much to be desired. While I despised the Michael Bay movies, he had a signature vision that made those destructive action sequences he relished a trademark of the franchise’s identity. Steven Caple Jr.'s direction lacks that explosive personality. The film is well-shot, but the composition and framework are too basic. It comes across as a first-timer at the helm of a studio blockbuster. OH, WAIT!
The inexperience and lack of identifiable traits are present in all the action sequences. The flat wide-shot composition and low-energy movement had me missing Knight and Bay. Only the climax is an exception due to its setting not being within any infrastructure and some good character beats. Rise of the Beasts could’ve been the franchise’s best entry with a proficient action director at the helm.
Optimus Prime is very annoying in this movie. He’s uncharacteristically whiny and uptight throughout most of it. His obsession with getting this plot device artifact leads to him impulsively killing some of his teammates. Once he loses a comrade, he blames his incompetence on Noah, going, “If we didn’t bring the human with us, none of this would’ve ever happened.” On multiple occasions, Noah is holding up his end of the task while Prime is getting his ass handed to him by Scourge. Nevertheless, Prime wouldn’t stop talking shit. He walked with such a metal stick up his ass that I was irritated by him.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts delivers another dosage of vibrant Transformers fun through a charming, entertaining entry full of ‘90s swagger. Even though its action direction is its weakest component, the film still proves that even after seven movies, there is indeed more than meets the eye.
