Get ready for another explosive ride with the latest addition to the Transformers franchise, Transformers: Rise of the Beast. While it may not break new ground, this high-octane film directed by Steven Caple Jr. and written by Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, and Josh Peters boasts an impressive cast including Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, and Lauren Luna Velez, with voice acting by Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, Peter Cullen, Ron Pearlman, Coleman Domingo, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, MJ Rodriguez, John DiMaggio, and Cristo Fernandez.
The story begins on an alien planet with the Maximals, alien robots with animal likenesses, who are given a key to protect from the world-eating entity, Unicron. They flee their world to hide, but things get complicated when Noah Diaz (Ramos), an inner-city guy living in Brooklyn in 1994, gets involved in a heist that leads to the discovery of the key’s location. Elena (Fishback), an art historian specializing in alien artifacts, also finds a Hawk that looks like Air Razor with an unknown symbol, setting off a signal that alerts others of the key’s location. The two humans join forces with the Autobots and Maximals to defeat Unicron or die trying.
While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the Maximals add an exciting dynamic to the film, often outshining the more familiar Autobots and humans in terms of intrigue and character interest. However, the film falls short in terms of visual texture, with the Autobots and Maximals needing more attention to detail. The movie also misses an opportunity for more nuanced character work, with Optimus Prime reverting to his usual wet-blanket attitude and Ramos and Fishback’s characters struggling to compete.
Despite its flaws, Transformers: Rise of the Beast does make a noteworthy stride in inclusivity, incorporating Peruvian indigeneity into Autobot lore and offering a unique departure from previous films. The film also attempts to incorporate social commentary into the narrative, which is a step in the right direction for a franchise known more for robotic brawls than social introspection.
Overall, Transformers: Rise of the Beast delivers the usual thrills and action-packed sequences that fans have come to expect from the franchise. However, it falls short of pushing the boundaries of storytelling and visual effects. Nevertheless, it’s still a must-see for fans of the series. Don’t miss it when it hits theaters on June 9, 2023, distributed by Paramount Pictures.
