Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) review

Installment number seven in the franchise based on toys from Hasbro is set in 1994 where a magical tool known as the Transwarp Key - which can apparently open up a space-time portal - appears in Brooklyn and planet devourer Unicron (voiced by Colman Domingo) sends Scourge (Peter Dinklage) to collect it, but its existence also awakens the Autobots - led by valiant but surly Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) - who require assistance from former soldier Noah (Anthony Ramos) and museum worker Elena (Dominique Fishback) to save Earth.  This is missing the directorial excess of Michael Bay (who's just a producer), the plotting is lazy and the attempts to generate "sympathy" (Noah's brother has sickle cell disease, several of the robots get badly injured if not outright killed) are egregious, but it does introduce a new group of machines called the Maximals, with Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman) as their leader, which are kind of fun to look at ... and will probably sell a few action figures.  Speaking of which, the ending suggests G.I. Joe is coming back - are Army recruitment numbers down or something?