Transformers: The Last Knight

The Transformers movies, like those of Pirates of the Caribbean, have been on a notable decline since their awesome first forays onto the big screen. Any derivation of “Oh god, there are five of these now?!” was understandable. Then you watch director Michael Bay’s latest exercise in live action cartoonism and… it’s a good time at the movies!

Sure, and of course, it’s full of plot holes and conveniences. The titular significance of Mark Wahlberg’s character, Cade, could’ve been given to anyone. An Oxford historian could’ve been a stodgy old professor in a tweed jacket and bushy eyebrows, but instead she’s played by the gorgeous 31-year-old Laura Haddock for the sole reason that these movies require a beautiful woman. In fairness, Haddock isn’t as sexualized as much as Megan Fox was, and there’s little to no homophobia. Count these as positives.

There is a stodgy old Englishman, played by Anthony Hopkins. There’s also an unnecessary kid (Isabela Moner), the return of Josh Duhamel’s Lennox, and Stanley Tucci as Merlin the Magician.

That’s right, Merlin. Who helps King Arthur (Liam Garrigan) and the Knights of the Round Table during the Dark Ages. It seems that the Transformers have been on Earth for generations, and Merlin was a recipient of their assistance. Back in the present, the Transformers home planet of Cybertron is disintegrating, so Cybertron queen Quintessa (voice of Gemma Chan) wants to return to Earth to retrieve the staff given to Merlin, as only that can restore Cybertron. The good guys on Earth and the Autobots try to stop her. Megatron’s (voice of Frank Welker) Decepticons fight them. The screenplay deserves credit for thinking outside of the box and playfully incorporating history and folklore – didn’t see that coming.

The plot is mostly irrelevant for the obvious reason no one has ever bought a ticket to a Michael Bay movie for the story. The reasons his movies have collectively made more than $2 billion at the domestic box office are his use of visual effects and the action sequences, which are especially impressive in IMAX 3D.

Perhaps as a child of the ’80s I’m a sucker for Transformers and deep down really wanted this to be good. Perhaps I’m just grateful I didn’t leave with a headache like I did after the last movie, Age of Extinction. Regardless, The Last Knight is a welcome return to form for Bay and the franchise, one that’s good enough to not have us dreading part six.

TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT (2 1/2) Directed by Michael Bay • Starring Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel • Rated PG-13 • 149 min. • At Century Cinemas Del Monte, Century Marina, Maya Cinemas, Northridge Cinemas, Lighthouse Cinemas