The much needed course correction continues! Transformers fans unite!
Really, that’s all I need to write because if you liked, loved (or even tolerated) 2018’s Bumblebee, then you will be pleased with the contained cars-to-robots action of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, a return to the controlled storylines fans of the original Transformers cartoon should appreciate. We have likable human characters - both from Brooklyn - and a few key Transformers who unite to stop the world-chomping antics of Unicron.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and written by Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, and Jon Hoeber, Rise of the Beasts - after an engaging opening with the Maximals - situates itself in 1994 and drops us right into the middle of the drama as Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), an ex-soldier and electronics whiz, finds himself struggling to get the right care for his brother, Kris (Dean Scott Vazquez), pay the bills, and find a job to help his mother out.
Crime is easier, it seems, which is how he winds up in a parking garage trying to steal the scene-stealing Autobot Mirage (wonderfully voiced by Pete Davidson). The scene, in which he tries to break into and boost a silver and blue Porsche 964 is both comical and on-point in showing off Mirage’s projection abilities, as the robot takes over the driving duties and eventually makes himself known to the freaked out Diaz. Their bromance is quickly established and why not?! Mirage is incredibly articulated.
Our other human counterpart, artifact researcher Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) has the brains for her museum gig, but lacks the authority to do much with it . . . until she stumbles upon an artifact which connects the opening sequence - which features the animal-themed Maximals: Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman), Airazor (Michelle Yeoh), Cheetor, Rhinox, and Apelinq (voiced by David Sobolov) as they face off with enemy Transformer Scourge (Peter Dinklage) before having to go into hiding deep in Peru - to the drama of her world as this artifact suddenly becomes a beacon and illuminates the night sky. 
With the beacon suddenly calling for the Autobots to “Roll Out!” and signaling the return of their ancient enemy The Terrorcons, familiar faces return to the screen. Led by Optimus Prime (voiced by the iconic Peter Cullen), the autobots appearing in Rise of the Beasts include the wise-cracking Mirage, fan-favorite Bumblebee, a red-white Ducati motorcycle named Arcee (voiced by Liza Koshy), a brown and white Volkswagen minivan named Wheeljack (voiced by Ted Lasso’s Cristo Fernández), and a cargo plane named Stratosphere (voiced by longtime Transformers voice actor by John DiMaggio). Together, they must work hand-in-hand (and I mean that quite literally) with Noah, Elena, and the Maximals to bring about the downfall of Unicron and the Terrorcons.
And thanks to the steely-eyed handling of cinematographer Enrique Chediak, nothing gets out of hand as it would (and did) in Michael Bay’s movies. Sure, his name is on this one as an executive producer (along with Spielberg), but the style is much more reigned in. The carnage is controlled, the action is easy to follow and crisp, and everything gels to create an experience that should unite all fans of Transformers.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, complete with an old school hip-hop soundtrack straight from 1994, is a lot of unexpected fun and definitely falls in step with the previous Bumblebee, directed by Travis Knight, ignoring the films which came before. A good sign for the future of the Hasbro Cinematic Universe.
Autobots, roll out!
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 127 mins
Director: Steven Caple Jr.
Writer: Joby Harold; Darnell Metayer; Josh Peters
Cast: Anthony Ramos; Dominique Fishback; Luna Lauren Velez
Genre: Action | Adventure
Tagline: Unite or Fall.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Maximals, MAXIMIZE!"
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Official Site: https://www.transformersmovie.com/
Release Date: June 9, 2023
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts takes audiences on a 90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduces a whole new faction of Transformer – the Maximals – to the existing battle on Earth between Autobots and Decepticons.
