Review: Transformers One
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Transformers One. Keep in mind this is but one of the many movies I watch every year, and that whatever initial grade I come up for this film could change for better or worse with time. To better keep up to date with both my thoughts on other movies and if my feelings on this film changed, follow me on Letterboxd.
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THE PLOT
Via Letterboxd: The untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
QUICK REVIEW
When one hears that a new Transformers movie is coming out, it’s easy to have a shudder go down your spine. As much fun as I had with the first 2007 Michael Bay film, and found last year’s ‘Rise Of The Beasts’ entertaining enough, most film adaptations of the beloved franchise haven’t been what I’d exactly call movies that I look forward to.
But the latest film breaks away from its more hit-and-miss live action counterparts, using the medium of animation to tell its story, and keeping our heroes on the planet of Cybertron rather - than wasting time with some awkward comedic exchanges with human actors. And to add to the intrigue, it’s a full blown origin story that introduces to us to Optimus Prime and Megatron as friends rather than enemies. And it boasts an incredible voice cast that features Chris Hemsworth, Bryan Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm among others. A cast that on paper you might not think matches with this franchise and these characters, and yet they all do a spectacular job.
First and foremost, this is an animated film targeted towards young boys, but it’s written with enough winks at the audience and plenty dramatic (and downright dark) turns in the story that anyone of any age can become invested in the film’s story. The humor leans into the fact these are are our heroes before they were battle-weary veterans; they’re young and idealistic and hungry to find purpose. Even young Megatron, voiced by Henry, exudes a young idealism that I never thought i’d see exhibited the infamous villain.
What makes it stand out is where the film is willing to go. For all the comedic moments, the Transformers fan service, the flashes of action, and all the typical things that will entertain your kids, there is an inspection here of how governments can lie to their own citizens, of false prophets, of a beautiful bromance that transforms into something that becomes tragic, and of the way power can corrupt us or make us more responsible. This may be a “kids movie” targeted towards that demographic, but the writing team and director Josh Cooley somehow inserted very real and serious themes and questions here. But please don’t mistake that as me saying this will be too dark for the younger crowd. This is the definition of a movie you can take the whole family to and which will entertain everyone of all ages.
The animation isn’t necessarily knock you off your boots, but it does stand out. The score is both impactful and memorable. The action, especially in the third act, is engaging and much better than confusingly watching hunks of metal hit each other without being able to distinguish the two fighting robots.
This is this year’s ‘Mutant Mayhem’. Its an animated, comedic action, romp that will go in some more darker and mature places. It’s definitely a strong contender to be in my personal Best Animated Feature lineup, come year’s end. I give Transformers One a very solid B+ with room to bump it up to an A- on rewatch. Transformers super fans, casual fans, and even some who outright hated the live action Michael Bay films, should all truly have a blast with what just might be the best film of the franchise yet - maybe even the best animated film of the year.
INITIAL GRADING
... this franchise is "beloved"?
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