The Transformers are back in theaters this weekend with your favorite characters making their way back to the screen. From Optimus Prime to Bumble Bee and Arcee, the seventh movie in the franchise brings in a whole new collection of characters, bad guys and other transforming type creatures that are there to help in the battle to save Earth and other planets.
Set in the not-so-far past of the mid-1990s, other than the technology and cars, the movie doesn’t feel like it’s even set in the past. And with the current cycle of design currently back to the same fashion as the 90s, the wardrobe doesn’t feel like the movie is in the past either. But this iteration of the Transformer’s story goes to the past and over a decade before we first met the Autobots (in this relaunch) in 2007. This should give the story the opportunity to bring in some back story to give us the characters we all fell in love with in the original movie in the series, but instead – we get the same formula we’ve seen play out over and over in these movies.
The movie follows a very simple formula. There’s an energy force that is putting the Earth and the Autobots in danger, and they have to team up with humans to stop it from happening. Optimus Prime, at this point in the story, doesn’t like humans at all, despite having lived on Earth for decades if not longer. But is forced to partner with a boy named Noah when Mirage brings him on a mission to get the key that can help send them home or destroy the whole planet. The Autobots and the humans have to work together and find common ground… The same story, and the same formula again, like every other transformer movie.
But Rise of the Beasts has a few major plot issues that the previous ones didn’t. Every step of the mission is in an area that the Autobots can’t get to and must send the humans to do for them. Even when they don’t completely trust them. And multiple times they hand over technology or send the humans to a spot and say “Get Out of Here” without instructions, or really anywhere for them to go. If you’re stuck in the middle of a battle of Titans, you’re going to get killed along the way. Especially when the battle is on an island and there’s no escaping damage or death for the humans involved. There’s also a total disregard for damage to, well, everything in these non-stop battles and there’s no way that the Autobots or any of the large robotic aliens would be a secret from the rest of the world for decades after.
New in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the introduction of the Maximals, or large robotic animal hybrids that are hiding the energy Key from Unicron – the earth-eating type monster, while staying on Earth. Hiding throughout the world, they are once again reunited when the Autobots and humans come to the forests of Peru to find the other half of the key to stop Unicron from destroying another planet. This takes the story to the deepest, darkest forests of Peru, and sadly we don’t get to see Paddington or have any marmalade sandwiches.
Instead, audiences are met with characters with names like Optimal Primal (which causes laughter throughout the room), Cheetor, and Rhinox. All vaguely animals with some patches of skin and hair, but definitely robotic. They don’t seem to transform, however, just all have a bit of an animal appearance to them.
The movie does, however, bring back the character of Mirage last seen in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Previously voiced by the late Francesco Quinn, the role is now voiced by Pete Davison. Bringing with him the comedic timing and heart that he is known for. It seems that despite all of the ridiculousness and suspension of disbelief the movie requires – it does seem to actually have some laughs and some heart overall.
If you’re looking for a movie that takes a lot of thinking or has even a hint of reality, frankly, the Transformers movies have never been on that list. But if you’re looking for a couple of hours to not have to focus a lot on things, and want to see a lot of giant robot aliens fight and destroy New York City and other parts of the world – this is the movie for you. You already pretty much know the story if you’ve seen the other movies, but fans will enjoy watching The Autobots Roll Out again.
Overall Rating:
About Transformers: Rise of the Beast:
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformer – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.
