Movie Review: ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ Does Not Measure Up

(Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)

After a Hard Day’s Work 

 1/2

After a hard day’s work, sometimes it becomes hard to gauge whether a movie is as bad as it appears, or if it just seems that way because of fatigue.

Furthermore, sometimes sequels of a franchise are hard to gauge because some of their predecessors are just greatness personified.

But with “Transformers: The Last Knight,” none of the aforementioned excuses are relevant.

“Transformers: The Last Knight” is only good for a good night’s rest and pales miserably in comparison to “Transformers: Age of Extinction” and is very predictable down to the potential relationship between Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) and Vivian Wembley (Laura Haddock).

In “Transformers: The Last Knight,” it is made clear that transformers have always existed in the world.

The Dark Ages contain important facts that could someday possibly save the world from destruction if those facts are in the hands of the good guys and not their adversaries.

Even during the Dark Ages, the Autobots have come to the defense of mankind to defeat evil forces.

Led by Optimus Prime, the Autobots have always protected mankind from the Decepticons and other evil forces.

Unfortunately for the human race and the rest of the Autobots, Optimus Prime is missing in action and being corrupted by evil forces in Cybertron that are trying to turn him against his comrades.

The Decepticons and Optimus Prime want the ancient information from the Dark Ages for their own evil desires, while Cade, Vivien and the Autobots want it to save the world from apocalypse.

The battle for the prized possession from the Dark Ages could bring more darkness to the world, or save the world from those dark forces.

The “Transformers” franchise is iconic and director Michael Bay is an icon in his own right.  But “Transformers: The Last Knight” misses on so many levels and does not measure up to the great “Transformers” movies of the past.

Although the Transformers are obviously a children’s toy and cartoon, “Transformers: The Last Knight” was a little too juvenile for action movie lovers.

Wahlberg is a great actor, but the storyline in this edition of the film franchise did not give him enough meat to work with.

“Transformers: Age of Extinction” provided more drama for Wahlberg to work with, and he gave a great performance in that film.

Conversely, it is great to see comedian Jerrod Carmichael (“The Carmichael Show”) getting more mainstream exposure.

Although Carmichael is his usual hilarious self, “Transformers: The Last Knight” will hopefully showcase his talent to a broader audience.

“The Carmichael Show” is known for stretching boundaries racially and politically, which might turn off some viewers (think of a 21^st century Black version of “All in the Family”).  But “Transformers” will allow his comedy to reach non-fans of his popular sitcom.

Fortunately for the film, it is visually stunning in 3-D with destructive scenes of such iconic places as Soldier Field in Chicago.

Furthermore, the children in “Transformers: The Last Knight” are adorable and often steal the scenes from their older counterparts.

Unfortunately, after a hard day’s work, moviegoers will find better things to do with their nights than watching “Transformers: The Last Knight.”