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James Mottram

2.5/5 stars
After 2018’s 1980s-set Transformers spin-off Bumblebee proved slightly less execrable than the five preceding Michael Bay-directed films based on the Hasbro toy line, this latest in the franchise is all aboard the ’90s nostalgia train.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set in 1994, which means a hip-hop soundtrack and nods to Sonic the Hedgehog and Marky Mark – actor Mark Wahlberg’s former stage name.
Without Bay at the helm, the ear-screeching carnage is taken down a decibel or two. With Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) directing, this latest battle between alien robots, clocking in at around two hours, is ever so slightly more bearable.


Anthony Ramos, the very likeable actor from In the Heights, takes centre stage as Noah Diaz, a New York-based ex-soldier trying to keep it together for his sick 11-year-old brother Chris.
Urged on by a friend, he gets embroiled in some grand theft auto, except that the Porsche he steals is Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson), one of the stranded Autobots led by Optimus Prime – voiced by Peter Cullen, sounding more like Taken-era Liam Neeson by the day.

They have a chance to leave Earth thanks to a McGuffin, the “transwarp key”, hidden in a museum. Unfortunately, a planet-eating dark lord named Unicron also wants this portal-opening device, and he has sent his loyal lieutenant Scourge (Peter Dinklage) to retrieve it.
With Diaz roped in, so is Elena (Dominique Fishback), who works at the museum. No one seems too freaked out that there are talking robots that morph into motorbikes, trucks and aeroplanes.
Soon enough, everyone is off to Peru – of course the key was split in two, just to prolong the agony – where they meet a group of alien-robot “beasts” or “Maximals” including the gorilla-like Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman) and the majestic-looking falcon Airazor (Michelle Yeoh).

This jaunt to South America provides some spectacular mountain scenery, and it makes a change from watching robots smashing into skyscrapers. That does not exactly make the film a delight, but Caple has a better sense of restraint than Bay ever did.
Yes, there are still some terrible lines – “the galaxy will once again be yours to feast on” – but at least Davidson’s hyper-turn and Ramos’ easy-going authenticity offer some fizzy chemistry. Even the sexism of the early films, with Megan Fox bending over in teeny-tiny shorts, has largely been erased.
Do not expect this to be the end, though, with a Rise of the Beasts trilogy in the works. Maximal tedium ahead.
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Optimus Prime, voiced by Peter Cullen, in a still from “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (category IIA), directed by Steven Caple Jr. Anthony Ramos and Michelle Yeoh co-star.

Mirage and Anthony Ramos in a still from “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”.

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Wade (left, voiced by Mamoudou Athie) and Ember (Leah Lewis) in a still from “Elemental”. Photo: Disney/Pixar

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Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson and Ron Perlman are some of the actors to lend their voices to ’90s-set action film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
There is less of the ear-screeching carnage from Michael Bay’s films in Steven Caple Jr.’s endeavour, but do not expect the movie to be any less tedious


Transformers: Rise of the Beasts features the voice of Michelle Yeoh and a change in scenery from the usual cityscape alien robot battles – but do not expect this sequel to be any less tedious.


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An assessment or critique of a service, product or creative endeavour.  Film reviews, restaurant reviews, reviews of art exhibitions. (Eg. Crazy Rich Asians: an important film, yes, but a good one?)


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Review | Transformers: Rise of the Beasts movie review – 1990s-set robot sequel, with Michelle Yeoh voicing Airazor, promises more tedium ahead