Running Time: 104 minutes
This animated feature from Paramount Pictures opens exclusively at theaters on September 20th.
I’m aging myself here, but as a child I will admit to being a fan of the Hasbro Transformers toy line (most kids of the 1980s were). In addition to the popular cartoon TV-series right around the height of their popularity, the following years saw a 1986 animated feature and, starting in 2007, a live-action series of blockbusters. Honestly, those recent efforts did little to impress me. The visual effects were impressive, but the stories were nonsensical at times with little within them to grab and engage me as an adult viewer.
Now, a PG- rated animated origin story has arrived. I will admit to being unenthusiastic at the prospect of seeing another feature in the franchise, but Transformers One is a pleasant surprise. It is a fun and exciting fantasy that, despite taking place in a strange, robotic world, still manages to develop its characters in interesting ways and deliver a clear, relatable story. Truth be told, this is actually the best Transformers film (unfortunately, it wasn’t screened for me in 3D, so I can’t write about how effectively that process is used in this film).
The tale is set on the planet Cybertron, which is made of sentient metallic beings who each can transform themselves into a working piece of machinery. That is, all but a group of lower-class mining bots who work under the surface. Two of them are best pals Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry), who yearn for escape from their mundane life. One day, they manage to illegally get themselves in the middle of a race featuring the planet’s best competitors. While some are furious at their rule-breaking, legendary leader Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm) congratulates them on their resourcefulness and promises to reward them. However, they end up demoted and they begin to wonder if the heroic lore of Sentinel Prime might be a lie. They sneak outside the metropolis with supervisor Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) and lonely, motor-mouthed B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key) to discover the truth.
The movie has a unique visual style that harkens back to the original 80s series, but also feels updated and far more polished. This isn’t a lavish Disney or Pixar effort, but the film does have its own stylish chrome-inspired appearance that gives it a unique and distinctive look. This is a fantasy picture set on another world, so the reflective characters look particularly impressive during the brightly lit early chase and through several of the big action set-pieces (all of which are well-staged and, at times, even genuinely thrilling).
The movie’s biggest plus is the work of the voice cast and the way young Orion Pax and D-16 interact. While the two eventually become iconic enemies, here they are presented as good friends simply looking to better themselves. There is plenty of banter between them about the trouble they’re getting themselves into that result in off-handed comments and laughs. Despite the alien environment, the story initially comes across like an action-packed “buddy picture” from the 1980s. Of course, things do eventually take a serious turn as D-16 struggles to deal with his rage.
Supporting characters deliver some entertaining moments as well, especially when they develop new skills and powers. There are enjoyable interactions between the stoic Elita-1 and scene-stealing B-127, who is generally amazed when discovering newfound abilities. The film includes some fun character cameos and voice-work from noted performers (including Lawrence Fishburne and Steve Buscemi) who really deliver their dialogue with authority.
Naturally, the fact that this is a prequel means that the fates of several main characters aren’t really in any doubt, taking a bit of edge off of the proceedings. The moviemakers try to create some new environments for the characters to explore, but there is only so much you can do with an entirely mechanized world. This is also a relatively violent movie, meaning that parents with young kids should be prepared for a few characters to meet unfortunate ends.
But it is remarkable just how well the film works. The relationships between the main characters are well written and performed, allowing it to keep the attention of even casual enthusiasts. Transformers One accomplishes its goal of revamping a tired franchise and giving fans something new to look forward to.