I’ll be honest with you guys…I desperately wanted to hate Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. I went into it thinking that at best it was going to be so bad it’s good. At worst, our resident film critic, Brandon Vick, and I would be able to talk shit about this movie for the rest of our days like the haters we are. But, that’s not at all where this viewing experience went for me. I wasn’t even going to see this movie! I’m not sure I’ve seen a Transformers movie other than 2018’s Bumblebee since 2009. But, when we got together with the EIC at 615 Film, Sean Atkins, last week to record a review of The Flash for The Vick’s Flicks Podcast, Sean had us going by saying there was a really interesting twist at the end of this movie that made him excited about the future of the franchise. Okay, Sean. We bit. Brandon and I went to see the movie yesterday evening.
Instead of being a hater, I’m sitting here on my couching thinking, “omg think of all the possibilities!” Is it a reboot? A reset? A sequel? Who knows? All I know is that Michael Bay didn’t direct this thing and it shows (that’s a good thing). The Transformers franchise needed a fresh set of eyes on this thing and Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II, The Land) nailed it. Rise of the Beasts gave me a nostalgic callback to the feelings I had watching the Transformers cartoon as a kid. It’s a simple, tight story and we don’t waste any time aligning the stars and getting right down to it, but Caple gives it room to breathe throughout the duration of the film’s runtime. You’d never call a Transformers movie grounded, but it did feel like Rise of the Beasts was anchored more in the human element than grandiose action and destruction. Beneath the surface, it’s also a pretty fun little adventure movie – with a direct nod to the Indiana Jones franchise thrown in there to boot. The 90s setting with 90s music playing helped set the vibes as well.
Anthony Ramos was rocksteady as Noah Diaz, the film’s leading man. Between his willingness to do what he had to do to help his little brother and the charisma that he brought to the screen, he served as the real heart of this movie. Yeah, there’s the whole ‘save our home planet’ angle for the Autobots and Maximals, but Ramos’ Noah gives the movie a centered relatability that it needs. Pete Davidson was great as Mirage, the offbeat, rough-around-the-edges Autobot that gives the group a little range next to Optimus Prime’s straight-faced somberness (we get it – he’s been through a lot. He’s a sad boi.). Not only was each guy fantastic in his own right, but the chemistry between the two characters was evident from the jump, and the development of their relationship was another element of the film that gave it some heart.
Don’t get me wrong – there’s still that cynical critic in me that would definitely like to take command of the keyboard and tell you guys that Rise of the Beasts is littered with cheesy one-liners, hokey dialogue, and unbelievable action sequences. Our characters, Noah and Dominique Fishback‘s Elena specifically, do seem to just jump right in and accept the consequences of joining a war between alien robot factions without much questioning. The stakes feel a little too high for some folks that just met. But, I know…I know…”suspend your disbelief at the door, Stoney.”
All in all, I would classify this as a bona fide surprise. It’s one that, if you’re a 90s kid like me, you’re probably going to feel nostalgic watching (especially if you had that badass Cheetor action figure back in the day). And, if you’re taking the kiddos, well, I’d imagine a negative review from a little one will be hard to come by for this one. It checks all of the boxes as to what a fun time catching a summer blockbuster at the theater is all about. Regarding that one…well…massive reveal at the end, I’ll just say without giving any spoilers away…I can’t wait to see what the future of this franchise holds. Sean was right after all. Rating: 3/5.
If you haven’t had the chance to catch up on this show, you can check out the full episode of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast below! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Follow on Spotify, and wherever you take in your shows!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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