‘Transformers One’ Review – An Engaging, Electric Triumph

There may not be another franchise in existence more suited for animation than Transformers. The loud, active colors, imaginative designs, and exaggerated worlds all suit the creative outlet in a way that many stories and sorts of source material don’t. Yet somehow, Transformers One is the first full-length animated film since Transformers: The Movie back in the ’80s. Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4) takes the directorial helm in an effort to start the franchise anew. Gone are the human characters laced throughout live-action adaptations; actually, gone are humans at all.

Transformers One takes place on the fictional Cybertron and tells the tale in origin of Optimus Prime and Megatron. When the film opens the two are simply common workers, unable to transform and solidified in a life lacking substance. That is until a big (spoilery) specific comes along and throws a wrench in the whole operation. The film does a brilliant job building a new world for audiences to immerse themselves in. Cybertron is split into a below-ground city and an above-ground wilderness, both of which have compelling visual palettes and a bunch of singularities that make them two of a kind. The whole thing is just a clinic in animated storytelling, boasting a style that suits the Transformers pedigree to perfection.

Natural neon sunsets supersede glassy blue light; nuts, bolts and smooth surfaces give way to rocks, dirt and jagged edges. The narrative ties these worlds together, bridging the chasm between them and making what at some intervals feel two movies, one. It’s a remarkably consistent experience in spite of its own insistence on staying on-rails, always moving. Cooley sharpens his Pixar-like sensibilities to suit the steely heart of the Transformers universe with this one. What he, in tandem with a team of four credited writers, do with Optimus Prime specifically is astounding. This incarnation of what is a childhood hero for many is perhaps the best ever, and it comes down to a crystal clear reverence for the character being put first.

Both on the page and screen, his heart stands tall as the center of attention. Chris Hemsworth’s turn in the role, which had a lot of folks worried, may ironically be the biggest win of them all. He manages the expected stoicism whilst also supplanting the performance with a younger, more exasperated tone that has been absent in live-action adaptations up to this point. Brian Tyree Henry brings a sinister twist to the same approach as Megatron. Taken with Hemsworth, the two bring down the house as one of the more memorable animated leads in a long while. It’s a cliché to say that someone embodies, or becomes their role, but sometimes that’s exactly what happens. Such is the case with Henry and Hemsworth here.

Most of what doesn’t work in Transformers One is the stuff that didn’t work in the trailers. Tonally, it can bounce around a little too much, and the jokes that didn’t land in the previews don’t land in the full thing, regardless of context. It isn’t an unfunny movie – Keegan-Michael Key’s Bumblebee drops a few hilarious lines – but the brand of humor definitely borders the juvenile line to a disappointing degree.

What’s worse is that the film can get really serious too, and even a little violent. The latter aspects are very welcome, but when something shocking or moving happens right after a recycled, blockbuster-safe joke it makes you squirm a little bit. Perhaps potential sequels, given this film’s financial success, will benefit from the freshly situated world and put a little more focus on the weak spots.

While it’s true that not everything needs a sequel or franchise-level expansion, some films fit that mold, and Transformers One is among them. It does enough to warrant itself as a standalone origin whilst also successfully building the foundations of compelling character developments and future clashes. It’s just a convincing first film, and deserves a shot at expanding outwards into something more. Paramount has a textbook hit on their hands. Transformers One is the best Transformers movie to date, and might even be the animated movie of the year. It’s the perfect family movie, so round up your crew and make sure you catch this one in theaters.

Transformers One will debut exclusively in theaters on September 20, 2024, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.