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‘Transformers: The Last Knight’
(Paramount Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
Ten years ago, Michael Bay gave the world his take on Hasbro’s “Transformers,” introducing a new generation to the world of the Autobots and the Decepticons. Though the series faced critical lows, it’s still one of the most profitable blockbuster franchises of the 21st century.
For those interested in what happens next after 2014’s “Age of Extinction,” here’s just the taste of the insane action/comedy mix you can expect from these movies in “Transformers: The Last Knight.”
After Optimus Prime (voice legend Peter Cullen) left Earth to search for Cybertron, Earth has deemed the Transformers to be illegal and dangerous. Special Forces led by Sgt. Lennox (Josh Duhamel) are tasked to hunt the robots and capture them at any costs. Also being hunted is Cade (Mark Wahlberg), who hides out in a junkyard with Autobots Bumblebee, Hound (John Goodman), and Drift (Ken Watanabe) and new assistant Jimmy (Jerrod Carmichael). A little girl named Izabella (Isabela Moner) soon joins the group with her robot friend Sqweeks and her own repairing skills. However, Megatron (Frank Welker replacing Hugo Weaving) is also hunting Cade who’s in possession of an artifact giving to him by ancient Transformer.
This leads him and Bumblebee to go to England where the butler bot Cogman (Jim Carter from Downton Abbey) introduces the two and Oxford Professor Vivian (Laura Haddock) to Sir Edmond (Anthony Hopkins) the leader of a secret organization preserving the history of the Transformers on Earth. He reveals that the artifact holds the key to the magical staff left behind by Merlin (Stanley Tucci). Meanwhile, Optimus is brainwashed by Quintessa (Gemma Chan) into destroying Earth and rebuilding Cybertron. This all leads to a spectacular battle that decides the fate of the planet.
Let’s get it out of the way: This movie is loud, obnoxious, action-heavy and full of crazy moments to shake your head at. And yet it’s entertaining, for what it’s worth. Even if you get past the logistical holes in the story, Bay keeps things going at a fast pace throughout its two-hour, 30-minute running time. He also seems to go the extra mile, using real locations around the world to film some explosive action, so he gets extra points for being more realistic.
The movie’s most interesting aspect, however, is its chance to expand on the Transformers mythology beyond just arriving from Cybertron. It opens to further explorations of the robots’ history of Earth and why they chose it to live there. It’s funny to see ancient Autobots in Arthurian lore though it still worked better than anything in “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” But for those wanting popcorn-munching action, then this movie does not disappoint showing everything at a wider scope. The climax inside the ruins of Cybertron above Earth is certainly the most satisfying of the series with actual high stakes at risk.
Whether or not you do have fun with these movies, you have to admit that the cast have more fun working on this movie. Wahlberg brings all the charm and charisma to his performance while giving us more laughs than Ted 2. Hopkins surprisingly steals the film by being both funny and intimidating like he’s happily spoofing his Oscar-winning Hannibal Lecter performance. There’s also a brief return of John Turturro as ex-agent Simmons which is welcome though all he does is spout out exposition at any time.
Of course “Transformers: The Last Knight” isn’t going to win any awards or get any love from longtime fans of the 1980s cartoon, but what you expect is exactly what you’ll get. A summer blockbuster in the most defining of terms that is dumb but satisfying entertainment. If it still appeals to you, then expect more sequels on the way.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for violence and intense sequences of sci-fi action, language, and some innuendo)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.25 Stars (Out of Four)
