'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' Movie Review: A Disappointing, CGI-Laden Sequel

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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts brings the franchise back to the big screen for its seventh installment. But is it the summer blockbuster that fans have been waiting for? It’s debatable.

The film’s trailer promises an action-packed and visually spectacular 2-hour and 16-minute run time that will transport audiences back to the ’90s. We embark on a globetrotting adventure alongside the heroic Autobots as they encounter a brand-new faction of Transformers known as the Maximals.

In what’s supposed to be an epic battle for Earth, the Autobots find allies in the Maximals, adding a new twist to the ever-evolving Transformers universe. But is anything here really new?

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Movie Movie Trailer

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Movie Review: What I Did and Didn’t Like

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts may be one of the better Transformers films. However, unless you’re already a fan of the franchise, there’s not much here to pull in new fans to the universe.

The story is simple and straightforward. And the plot does little to capture the imagination. The action sequences are well-done. But they lack creativity – we’ve seen them all before.

But let’s start with the script… that’s where the foundation of the problems lay with this one.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts — Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

Story

The film lacks the heart and depth needed to truly captivate audiences. It’s burdened by its formulaic storyline and excessive reliance on CGI, resulting in a movie that feels bland and massively bloated with action.

In the film’s initial scenes, there’s a promising attempt to prioritize human interactions before delving into the robot-driven chaos. The early adrenaline-pumping car chase and epic battles between bots set an exciting tone for what’s to come. However, as the film progresses with its remaining run time, the narrative gradually loses its grip.

The screenplay, crafted by Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, and Josh Peters, lays out a rather convenient series of events and setbacks for the main characters, further undermining the overall narrative cohesiveness. A prevailing sense of insignificance pervades as nothing truly appears to be at stake. The lack of genuine peril leaves no room for doubt that everything will ultimately turn out fine, diminishing the impact of the film’s events and contributing to an overall feeling of indifference. Death is treated as nothing more than a passing plot device.

Acting

The acting in the movie is fine for what the script gives the cast to work with. However, the performances here feel limited by a lack of character development. The cast ends up being overshadowed by the film’s reliance on visual effects, which start to feel terribly repetitive by the time we get to the film’s climax.

Overall

Ultimately, this is a Michael Bay production. So you know what to expect. It’s characterized by the franchise’s trademark blend of explosive action, a touch of human drama, and robot fatalities.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts isn’t great – nor is it bad. Some may argue that the film is terrible. However, true fans of the franchise will likely love it. Though, I’m personally not a big fan of the Transformers universe. So, in the end, I was very “meh” about this one.