REVIEW: TRANSFORMERS - RISE OF THE BEASTS

3/5

Beast Mode.

127 Mins. Starring: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Tobe Nwigwe, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Pete Davidson, Peter Dinklage, Colman Domingo, Michael Kelly & Michelle Yeoh. Director: Steven Caple Jr. In: Theatres. 

BAYhem may now be a sunset away, but the 'Transformers' movie franchise still knows how to bring the crash, bang and wallop for your summer big-screen blockbuster circuit. After the first five Michael Bay films between Shia LaBeouf and Mark Wahlberg, Hailee Steinfeld spun-off with the standalone 'Bumblebee' solo film that was a favourable success amongst stans, cinephiles and critics alike. Now, set after that movie in the "stop, drop, shut 'em down, open up shop" of the 90s, this powerful prequel lets the robots in disguise transform again. This 'Rise Of The Beasts' is a halfway-house between 'Bee' and the other transforming theatrical films, which sometimes leaves it a little lost. All in all though, this is what the fun franchise should all be about. Complete with a few more movable parts to keep it fresh in this 'Fast X' age of family and fuel injected films in need of an oil change to go with that turboboost. 

'Hamilton's' Anthony Ramos is a born star. Whether playing Lady Gaga's best friend in the ultimate modern musical remake, or spurring his own one on 'In The Heights'. As New York as they come like his Mars Blackmon redefinition in Spike Lee's Netflix 'She's Gotta Have It' series. Now, he finally finds the franchise that could take him all the way spinning off into all sorts of territories. Straight out of his New York borough home with Wu Tang ruling a sick soundtrack all around him. He forms a fond family with 'Spider-Verse' voice Luna Lauren Vélez and his strong in the face of sickle cell anaemia brother Dean Scott Vazquez (a star to come). Whereas rapper and 'Mo' actor Tobe Nwigwe makes for a fair weather, but fair play friend. Yet, 'Show Me A Hero' and I'll show you the star of 'The Deuce', 'Jesus and the Black Messiah', 'Project Power' and 'The Hate U Give' (f###s everybody) very own Dominique Fishback. Brooklyn baby like Lana. 

The robots are disguised in vocals by some of the best in the biz. There's obviously the iconic Peter Cullen as the optimal voice in this prime time. But the Prime directive here sees 'Hellboy' Ron Perlman catching the perfect role as Optimus Primal, a primate king of the Maximals, based on the 'Transformers' cartoon and comic-books 'Beast Wars' series. Beating his chest, the beast of this nation based off of some unused concept art from 'The Last Knight'. 'Game Of Thrones' star Peter Dinklage plays the villain alongside the great Colman Domino's destroyer of worlds with a Galactus like appetite for planets. Complete with 'Bumblebee's' 90s era radio play (cue 'Seinfeld' and 'A Few Good Men') come a scene stealing and unrecognizable Mirage that is Pete Davidson as a Porsche, setting off a classic car chase. Making sense of those viral Met Gala pics with 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh who hawks a great role here is a flying bird of prey and heavy metal. 

'Creed II' director Steven Caple Jr. gives us a more than capable cinematic addition to that big a## Optimus Prime arm canon. Yet despite all the headlights, camera tricks and action, especially an 'Endgame' like finale, it's clear to see some tinkering of parts is still needed. That's where 'Jack Ryan', 'House Of Cards' and 'The Adjustment Bureau' favourite Michael Kelly comes in as the sandbox gets bigger for this franchise based on Hasbro toys. We nostalgically need it in this day and age that sees the billion dollar 'Barbie' girl opening up a world and Mattel Cinematic Universe of Barney, Polly Pocket and Thomas and Friends (didn't he make his debut on 'Bullet Train'?). For this toy line we've already seen the 'Beasts' of a sub-franchise, and soon we will have the animated prequel set in Cybetron ('Transformers: One') coming next year before two sequels to this series. More is on the rise. Time to lift off the disguise. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Transformers', 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon', 'Bumblebee'.