Transformers 4: Age of Disappointment?
Let me begin by saying, I have always been a huge fan of the Transformers Franchise, minus Revenge of the Fallen (the one we don't talk about). And seeing shots from my hometown was beyond cool-especially knowing Mark Wahlberg probably had his muscular arms out in the open for all of us to see... However, I'm afraid I wouldn't deem this my favorite Transformers Film.
When mechanical “wizard” Cade Yeager (Wahlberg) stumbles upon an old, beat down truck, he quickly realizes, much to the dismay of his daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz), that he has found a Transformer; not just any Transformer, but leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen). Prime is badly injured after a United States led attack on all Transformers: Autobot or Decepticon. Though they find the leader of the Autobots, the Yeager's, along with Tessa's unknown boyfriend Shane (Jack Reynor), soon find there's a reason the Autobots, namely Optimus Prime, are being hunted, and that their enemies are large in number.
If you're looking for what one always looks for when seated in a Transformers Movie Theater, which is, robots fighting robots, while smashing into buildings-you will not be disappointed. Age of Extinction offers the most action packed shots and sequences of, I believe, the entire franchise. Combined with satisfying deaths and kills. Guns, swords...robots turning into guns...robots turning into dinosaurs (?). If there's one thing Michael Bay is best at, it's action packed robot carnage, along with the occasional carefully placed product or ad, hidden behind an American Flag. The film offers the typical gun and air fight, along with new alien territory in the form of a mysterious Transformers' origin prison, run by the most badass nemesis (his face literally turns into a gun) known as a “bounty hunter.”
Along with this Autobot Bounty plot comes two others: a new breed of Transformer has been created by humans, and sleek looking Galvatron (voiced by Frank Weller) has served as only a body for reincarnated Megatron (He's baaack). And of course the usual human v. human/robot/universe plot comes into play with the aid of a bad guy played by Kelsey Grammar ('Merica). And yes, there are three subplots. Not to mention the whole, 'my daughter is going through teen angst and hates me' thing (which Bay spends about five minutes explaining to audiences what the Texas “Romeo and Juliet Laws” are). However, other big names who stood out in their roles include Stanley Tucci, Bingbing Li and even John Goodman (voicing Autobot “Hound”).
I lied earlier: another thing Michael Bay is great at is allowing leading ladies to be the best, most basic, damsel's in distress they can be. You go, girl! You hide behind that car, even though you maybe should've hauled ass ten minutes ago. If it hadn't been for Bingbing Li being a total badass in heels, we would've had to watch Peltz simper and whine like the world was crumbling just to annoy her.
Besides a few campy scenes along with some dialogue that would make Joel Schumacher cringe, Transformers serves it's purpose: as Entertainment and nothing more. Optimus Prime is at his baddest and Wahlberg certainly puts screaming Shia Lebouf (God rest his mainstream acting career) to shame. Giving Transformers: Age of Extinction a merciful 3 out of 5 stars.
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