A well that never seems to run dry – but frankly should – “Transformers” iterations feel almost endless. From the loud and dumb Michael Bay franchise to the hit or miss live action spin offs to countless attempts at animated films and series, bringing the toys to life is something we can’t seem to stop doing. So you’d be right to meet “Transformers One” was trepidation; after all, who needs ANOTHER one of these movies, let alone an origin story?
As it turns out, the answer is everyone. Everyone needs this because it shattered any doubts of new stories to be told and proved there is still some gas left in the proverbial tanks of the Autobots. Color me shocked, but this film is excellent. Gorgeously rendered and packed with heart, humor, action, and sincerity – a genuine reverence for its lore and source material transformed (no pun intended) by its clever reimagining.
Directed by Josh Cooley (“Toy Story 4“) from a script by Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferarri, and Eric Pearson (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Black Widow“) “Transformers One” is an untold origin story Long before they were ever know as Optimus Prime and Megatron, Orion Pax and D-16 (Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry) were best friends, miners of Energon that powers the planet but is all but evaporating. They are on the lower rung of society and without cogs – the thing that allows them to transform – and Orion hopes to rise above his station and become something more. D-16 however wants to maintain the status quo, not upsetting anything or anyone and accepting things the way they are. Through a series of mishaps and attempts to get noticed, Orion and D-16 gain the attention of Sentinel Prime (John Hamm), the last remaining hero and leader of Cybertron.
To their dismay however, they are sent to an even lower rung of society for their disruption, and of course hatch a plan to get back to where they were and gain favor. This leads them on an adventure to the surface, which sets them on a path of discovery and reveals the truth about about their planet, their fearless leader who may not be as heroic as they thought, and themselves. Orion and D-16 begin to share different ideas about what to do with this truth, and the discovery begins to sends a rift through their friendship. With a little help from some friends old and new, each must choose a side and save their world, and their choices may just destroy their friendship for good and turn them into enemies. “Transformers One” also stars Scarlett Johansson, John Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, Keagan Michael Key, and Steve Buscemi.
If that all seems like a lot of story for “Transformers One,” fear not. It’s much more streamlined than the synopsis description would lead you to believe. In fact, at it most basic, the film is a pretty straight forward friends turned enemies origin story, built on all of the familiar tropes and cliches you would expect from something with this framework. Where this film succeeds is by utilizing the strengths of the familiar rather than constantly try to subvert them. Cooley is acutely aware of both fan expectation and wanting to tell a new story, blending the unique, bold origins with familiarity seamlessly. There’s such a genuine sincerity that Cooley injects here, not just because he is clearly a fan of Transformers but because he knows you are, too.
The care and concern displayed in here stems from this love, and allows him to assure you that your beloved heroes and villains are in good hands even as he shows them to you in ways you’ve never seen them before.
As it begins, “Transformers One” is a whole lot of set up with a child-like center. It feels made for kids for the first 20 minutes or so, but as the story unfolds and characters mature throughout their adventure, the story matures with them. Sure, there’s a ton of exposition about silly shit like The Matrix of Leadership and Energon and Prime history, but that silliness can be overlooked for two reasons: it serves the narrative world we’re already in and the voice cast is working overtime to sell its importance. That’s not to say it is self serious, just that both the story and cast begin to get at something more emotionally resonant as the characters start to become the iconic versions we know and love. Michael Key and Johansson are primarily there for comedic effect (which works), while Fishburne is the exposition king and Buscemi is purely fan service. Considered me served.
It’s Hemsworth, Hamm, and Henry who add weight and elevate all of the turmoil and friends turned enemies storyline to a much more invested state. Hemsworth is surprisingly unrecognizable as Orion/Optimus, walking that fine line between a new voice and a near imitation of the classic, booming, Peter Cullen. No one will ever replace Cullen, and Hemsworth doesn’t try to. He pays the right amount of homage without overstepping the line, letting “Transformers One” feel like a legitimate origin to the legendary hero and how he will eventually sound. You can breath easy – Hemsworth is a great voice for the beloved cartoon. It’s Henry though who really does the leg work here, adding a layered approach to his D-16/Megatron performance. It’s nuanced and emotionally driven, seeing the fall of a friend and what drives him to become the iconic villain. I’ve been a huge fan of Henry’s work overall, but this shows he can bring that same magnetic and dramatic energy to his voice work.
There’s enough heart, humor and action in “Transformers One” to satisfy everyone, and make it one of the best outings in the franchise to date. It’s gorgeously rendered, with some truly stunning animation that brings the action to life is vibrant way. The third act is so well crafted even if you’ve seen it before that its hard not to get swept up in the spectacle. It’s a tried and true hero’s journey, and Cooley and friends make the most of everything. From story to cast to visuals, it is a blast that culminates in a thrilling, action-packed finale that also tugs at the heart strings. It’s genuinely fun for the whole family, old and new fans alike, and delivers on all fronts of good old fashioned fun at the movies.
It’s easy to overlook this film and dismiss it offhand. Lord knows the trailer doesn’t do it any favors. But I’m here to tell you that it’s a can’t miss adventure, one that will win you over in the end and remind you that there is still a lot left to tell in this world.
If “Transformers One” is the future of the Transformers franchise, then count me in again. 8th time’s a charm?
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
“Transformers One” hits theaters September 20th. You can watch the trailer now:
