Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – During the ’90s, a new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – join the Autobots as allies in the battle for Earth.

My Take – Ever since its live action launch in 2007, Transformers, the Michael Bay directed franchise based on the Hasbro toy-line, has become synonymous with CGI feast blockbuster film making, a series which the critics especially loved to hate. In some ways, rightfully so, especially for the headache inducing second installment, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009).

But as the succeeding films raked in billions at the box office, Paramount Pictures seemed assured that millions of fans would continue to turn up, no matter what they brought to the screen. That is until the lambasted Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) ended up earning just $605.4 million, nearly half of the $1.104 billion worldwide revenue its predecessor, Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), earned.

However, interest renewed especially critically with the positive reception of Bumblebee (2018), a soft reboot to the series, which saw screenwriter Christina Hodson and director Travis Knight rekindle the spirit of the 80s cartoon series, with an additional unexpected dose of warmth and humor. Setting a new tone for the franchise.

This follow up, continues that character focused approach with the bombast of the previous films for a great globe-trotting adventure that wastes no time and strikes a much better balance in giving screen time to its human and metal aliens characters, even if the sub titular beasts themselves are actually surprisingly underutilized.

And though it never reaches the epic heights of storytelling and action seen in director Bay‘s films (yes I still very much prefer those), in the hands of director Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) it still delivers a whole lot of punching, blasting and assorted nonsense to make for a crowd-pleasing, eye candy popcorn entertainer. Reminding one of those Saturday morning cartoons watching days, only on a much grander scale.

Beginning with a prologue which introduces Maximals and sees their homeworld being destroyed by the planet-eating dark god Unicron (voiced by Colman Domingo), the story heads to the year 1994 and follows Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), an ex-Army tech expert, who along with his mother (Luna Lauren Vélez) is struggling to take care of his sick little brother (Dean Scott Vazquez).

Unable to land a steady job, Noah gets convinced by his friend Reek (Tobe Nwigwe) to steal a Porsche 911 to sell, only to discover that the car is an Autobot spy called Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson), who reports to noble interstellar warrior Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen).

Meanwhile, Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback), an artifact researcher and intern at a museum, desperate to prove her worth, mistakenly ends up unleashing an energy pulse from the long hidden Transwarp Key, garnering Optimus’s attention, who immediately summons the other Autobots, including Bumblebee, to use it to get back to their home planet, Cybertron.

However, the same energy pulse also brings the corrupted Terrorcons to Earth. Led by the vicious Scourge (voiced by Peter Dinklage), they are determined to bring the key to Unicron, so he can travel through time and space through portals. With the faith of the planet in their hands, Noah and Elena find themselves teaming up the Autobots and the bionic beasts called Maximals led by Optimus Primal (voiced by Ron Perlman) to put a stop to Scourge’s plans.

This seventh installment is a familiar, hits-the-spot, save-the-day escapist action flick that’s crowd-pleasing, controlled and coherent and the Transformers are as entertaining as always. Although the film takes a bit of time to build up in certain parts, it ultimately contributes to the overall experience.

It helps that Steven Caple Jr.‘s direction is strong overall, the fights can get a little chaotic but a second act chase and third act final battle are still a lot of fun. The camera work is flawless, providing a fresh and new perspective for viewers.

The animal-themed Maximals aren’t the first non-Autobot or Decepticon faction to appear in these Transformers films, but they certainly make a more impactful entrance. The characters are mostly likable. Noah and Elena give the narrative heart and purpose, plus Noah’s fist-bumping buddy dynamic with new Autobot rebel Mirage being one of the main reason the film works.

Plus, in a refreshing change of pace, the film gives us a more jaded, rawer Optimus. Still reeling from the civil war that forced him and the Autobots to leave their home planet of Cybertron, he’s not yet evolved into the empathetic, natural-born leader we typically see him as. This Optimus is impulsive, indifferent to humans, and more committed to saving his people than saving the day.

What’s less effective is the writers’ attempt to force parallels between Optimus and Noah as two figures who must learn to look beyond the well-being of their own families. The formulaic final face-off, featuring the Maximals and Autobots fighting an army of Terrorcons is satisfying and well structured. Even though it lacks the excitement and inventiveness of director Bay’s films.

Performance wise, Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback provide sustainable enough performances to warrant a return. Peter Cullen continues to be the perfect voice of Optimus Prime and Peter Dinklage adds a creepy and dark twist to the proceedings.

Ron Perlman, Michelle Yeoh, Cristo Fernández, Liza Koshy, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, John DiMaggio, David Sobolov, and Colman Domingo make for a perfect all-star voice squad. With Pete Davidson being the standout among them. His constant quips never get annoying and manages to make an emotional connection to Noah as well.

In smaller roles, Luna Lauren Vélez, Tobe Nwigwe and Dean Scott Vazquez are effective. On the whole, ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ is a typical blockbuster that blends comedy, action, adventure and drama well enough.