Although I haven't been a big fan of the Transformers movies directed by Michael Bay, I really enjoyed "Bumblebee" by Travis Knight in 2018. I'm happy to say that "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" is more in line with "Bumblebee" regarding the story, flow, and balance between human and transformer storylines. The CGI action scenes were clear and easy to follow, unlike the chaotic and confusing scenes in previous films. I even laughed more than I had during any of the other Transformers movies, which was a pleasant surprise. Pete Davidson's delivery of lines was particularly funny, and the chemistry between him and Anthony Ramos was one of the film's highlights.

"Work friend? You were inside me!"

How this film balances the humor, action, and the robot-human storytelling makes it feel like the franchise may have finally found its footing--that maybe rotten tomatoes scores in the 20s are a thing of the past. 

"Don't call it a comeback." 

The 90's nostalgia machine has achieved full power in 2023. With "Air," "Tetris," "Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3," and "Blackberry," it seems like every major film released this year is steeped in 90's nostalgia and needle drops. (note: this is not me complaining--I'm all for it). 

The film is far from perfect, though. The dialogue continues to be poorly written at times. Giant robot smack-talk comes off as ridiculous, no matter the context. And the expository scene where they lay out the plan before the final battle is utterly laughable. The writers are straining to find reasons for the human characters to be part of the fray. And fake deaths--unfortunately, this has them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not rooting for a "The Transformers: The Movie" level genocide of favorite characters, but fake deaths are so emotionally manipulative and always feel like a shortcut to genuinely earning the emotionality through character development.

Overall, I immensely enjoyed my time at the theater. I had my two youngest kids with me, and honestly, this feels like the most family-friendly of any "Transformers" films. It's absent any male-gaze moments and cringe humor, and I never once felt uncomfortable having my kids beside me.

Lastly, our audience lost their collective minds when they teased the next film at the end. The crowd-pleasing moment was a massive surprise and was a brilliant trick to end the movie on a high note. I know I will be in line for the next film. 

— 3.5 / 5 ⭐