The seventh installment to the beloved Hasbro Toys franchise redials the overall narrative and visuals into pure nostalgia escapism that sets the Transformers back on track.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has a tricky role in the prosperous but rough franchise. It needs to be a safe entry to regain the interest of the public but not be too ambitious like its predecessors. This entry definitely has the passion of a filmmaker, making this into more than just a summer cash grab for a studio.  Rise of the Beasts brings together a new generation of actors with, for once, decently written human characters amongst the robots mixed with a fantastic soundtrack.

Jumping back into time, Rise of the Beasts occurs in 1994 right after Bumblebee but before 2007’s Transformers which puts it in a sweet spot of being a prequel and a potential reboot, away from the mess of the last two Bayformers. Anthony Ramos is Brooklyn native Noah Diaz who is looking for work to support his younger brother’s medical expenses. Over on Ellis Island, Elena (Dominique Fishback) is trying to prove herself at a job that doesn’t value her brilliance. They both share the experience of being young people of color constantly minimized by the work around them, adding a commentary that is often excluded in blockbuster movies. The search for a transwarp key leads them to team up with the Autobots in order to save the world from Unicron. It is a pretty simple plot that is entirely Transformers coded, but the introduction of the Maximals led by Optimus Primal and the genius voice performance of Pete Davidson make this an enjoyable journey to follow.

This film feels like a new era post-Bayformers due to the focus on clean, cut scenes versus muddled action previously consuming the rest of the series. There is a steady cam to capture all of the different mechanical characters to give a swift, easy-to-follow narrative and shots. This allows for even more enjoyment in watching the action sequences without any sort of confusion about what is on the screen. Audiences can purely indulge in their nostalgia for these iconic characters. It is the little details of simple transformation that overshadow the clunky mechanical set pieces. The individualized fighting style perfectly compliments their fellow Autobots, whether they are an ally or an enemy. 

The negative is the low stakes, as most movie-goers know how the story plays out, and most of these big players survive to appear in the rest of the franchise. Other than that, it is impressive what director Steven Caple Jr. was able to piece together to course-correct a tainted franchise with a promise for more to come.

Grade: B

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: None

Where to Watch: In Theaters

Jillian Chilingerian
she/her @JillianChili
Lives in LA
Favorite Director: David Fincher
Sign: Leo