Transformers One review: Animated prequel is earnestly enjoyable

3.0 out of 5 star rating

In this animated Transformers prequel, a robot proclaims, “It’s high time they see that there’s much more to us than what’s apparent.

Despite using familiar elements from a worn-out Transformers tale, particularly the franchise’s best film Bumblebee in 2018, director Josh Cooley still manages to create an enjoyable and heartfelt animation based on Hasbro’s transforming metal characters. In spite of expectations, Cooley has delivered one of the most delightful toy-themed animations since his previous work, Toy Story 4.

His approach is quite straightforward: dismantle the robots by removing their key traits and then reconstruct them anew. The story unfolds in the planet Cybertron, where our attention centers on characters who were once humble workers, unable to transform because they lack a vital “T-core”.

These robots primarily extract Energon, a crucial energy resource for Cybertron that is scarce. In essence, they work under exploitative conditions, reminding one of the worker ants from Antz and the marines from Aliens, both featuring camaraderie-filled dialogue.

Among them are Orion Pax, voiced by Chris Hemsworth, and his frequent trouble-solver buddy D-16, played by Brian Tyree Henry. Orion Pax aspires for greatness, while D-16 prefers caution. The differences between these friends will lead to a familiar conflict for Transformers enthusiasts.

In this particular Cybertron, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), a spotless robot, rules supreme. He’s the last surviving Prime after other Primes were destroyed by an extraterrestrial race. Amidst the socially stratified environment, a character named Pax emerges, aiming to revive the Energon supply of Cybertron by searching for a crucial artifact on its surface. Assisted by D-16, Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson), a supervisor in the workplace, and B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key), a fellow miner with a humoristic streak, Pax stumbles upon a plot involving foreign suppressors, political deceit, and missing T-cogs instead.

If the idea of a Transformers movie featuring oppressed workers rising up seems unconventional, that’s precisely why it’s refreshing. A likable ensemble cast adds appeal, with Hemsworth embodying rugged charisma and Johansson immediately recognizable. Steve Buscemi makes an appearance as Starscream, following a pattern in Transformers movies of using well-known voice actors.

Humor-wise, Key banks the majority of laughs in his role as Bumblebee-to-be B-127, who doesn’t hesitate to introduce himself as ‘Badassatron’ to anyone within earshot. At the same time, the growing antagonist tends to speak in a way that suggests he is reminiscent of a Trump caricature, often stating “The truth is what I decide it to be.

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Besides the characters’ voices, the animation makes the heroes more captivating compared to their live-action CGI counterparts, particularly because they possess gentle human characteristics. The settings are equally impressive, ranging from inhabited areas and gleaming urban landscapes to a race track that resembles a level out of Mario Kart.

As the script whizzes through witty dialogue (written by Marvel veteran Eric Pearson, alongside Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari), Cooley skillfully maintains an agile pace for the action, with the robots deftly moving at high speed across the track and beyond.

It’s not surprising where those tracks end up. A robot turning evil is an expected outcome, yet it happens far too quickly without much impact. The final battles are also repetitive, although Cooley acknowledges that even predictable challenges can be somewhat alleviated by clarity in the objectives and style.

It’s interesting to note that despite knowing the general direction of these Transformers movies, it was pleasantly unexpected to find one where you can discern which metallic figure is causing damage and, to an extent, care about who ultimately emerges victorious. Following the seemingly backward step of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Hasbro’s robotic combatants could potentially be looking at a revitalized cinematic journey ahead.

Transformers One is in UK cinemas from Friday 11th October 2024.

2024-10-01 17:04

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