Michael Bay’s trilogy closer might not win over new fans, but it’s without a doubt the best in the critically panned franchise.
Without spoiling too much, this threequel’s plot features a 1960s space race conspiracy marred by an obvious CGI-JFK appearance. Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky finds himself graduated from college struggling to find a job—not to mention the whole being a robot apocalypse magnet. Optimus Prime and his entourage of Autobots fight alongside the U.S. Military to take out the remaining Decepticons, and with a twist here and betrayal there, the climatic war spirals into 3-D action-packed brutality with Chicago as ground zero.
Gone is much of the mess from the second installment: Autobot heaven, the racist robot twins and Megan “Bay is like Hitler on sets” Fox. Transformers: Dark of the Moon is Bay’s self-admitted quest for redemption, and though much has been refined, his style over substance stamp is still—for better or worse— all over it.
There’s your traditional Michael Bay wide shot of soldiers walking side-by-side triumphantly in slow motion. Sparks fly, Autobots and Decepticons spit out one-liners left and right, and the robot slaughtering is more head-ripping abundant than ever. LaBeouf even manages to find himself an even hotter girlfriend—a Victoria’s Secret angel in fact.
The Autobots and Decepticons will always be the main attraction to these movies, but LaBeouf remains the reason to stay entertained for two and a half hours. It’s interesting to see how saving the world twice before does little to pay the rent or make a real name for a person. He’s still the same smart-mouth trustee for the Autobots, but there’s a real emotional arc to his character as he tries to find relevance amidst complete chaos.
Rosie Huntington-Whitely performance erases the memory of Fox as LaBeouf’s love interest in her cinematic debut. She’s a better actor, better looking and just more convincing all-around—even though it may seem initially unbelievable LaBeouf’s character could ever land such a career-driven bombshell. Her introduction sequence is quite the eye-catcher.
Smirking, plotting and deceiving his way into the friend turned total jerk role is Patrick Dempsey. “McDreamy” provides a human face to the Decepticon enemy, allowing for some excellent audience hate-watching.
Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson provide the non-robot action as their one-dimensional, gun-toting soldier roles. John Turturro’s agent Simmons is on display in full conspiracy addict glory, and Frances McDormand adds the necessary touch of seriousness as the take charge National Intelligence director. Sprinkle in the ever-maniacal John Malkovich and The Hangover’s Ken Jeong, and you’ve got a supporting cast that will either enhance or detract from the proceedings depending on whether you buy into the humor and camp.
Optimus Prime slices and dices his way to his highest body count yet; Bumblebee may draw some tears, and the other Autobots—called the Wreckers— each have their own scene stealing moments. Megatron, Starscream and Shockwave serve as the big name Decepticon baddies. And the most significant addition is Optimus’ mentor and former leader, Sentinel Prime, voiced superbly by Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy.
Whether you’re on the bandwagon or not, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a fitting finale to Bay’s supposed last outing in the franchise. For all of its faults—the overlong running time being No. 1—this is a summer blockbuster that delivers all of the popcorn goods. Roll out and enjoy.