‘Transformers One’ review: Autobots roll out in routine origin story
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
I always chuckle when a new “Transformers” movie is announced. Given the diminishing box office returns and waning critical enthusiasm, it’s puzzling how these films continue to get greenlit. Yet, here we are with “Transformers One,” the seventh Autobots film since 2007 and the first animated entry since the 1986 classic. This latest installment attempts to reboot the series with a focus on younger audiences. If the goal of director Josh Cooley and screenwriters Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari was to excite kids about Optimus Prime and Megatron, their success is evident from the enthusiastic response at my screening.
This isn’t a bad outcome. I imagine Paramount and Hasbro produced this film primarily to monetize merchandise and revitalize the brand for a potential Saturday morning cartoon. That the film is somewhat enjoyable and not a complete waste of time is miraculous, especially given the recent trend of lackluster live-action “Transformers” films. The bar was set pretty low.
“Transformers One” introduces us to Orion Pax (voiced by Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (voiced by Brian Tyree Henry), a pair of mining robots on the alien planet Cybertron. They aspire to break free from their indentured servitude and make a name for themselves by finding the Matrix of Leadership, a quest their leader, Sentinel Prime (voiced by Jon Hamm), has been pursuing his entire life. After a public stunt goes awry, Pax and D-16 are exiled to the lower mines, where they meet the fast-talking B-127 (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key—arguably the film’s highlight). They decide that to redeem themselves, they must journey to the planet’s surface to locate the Matrix.
Their adventure, joined by mining supervisor Elita (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), leads them through familiar and predictable narrative beats about the true nature of their lives on Cybertron. There’s a built-in tension for those familiar with the lore, as it becomes apparent that Pax and D-16's fate may not end well, with the evolution of their characters being the most engaging aspect of an otherwise straightforward plot. Once Sentinel Prime’s ulterior motives for his mining expeditions and surface visits are revealed, “Transformers One” settles into a basic adventure.
Nevertheless, the film's animators and artists infuse it with enough mythology to keep viewers engaged. However, despite the script finding its rhythm, the overall experience feels as if we've been down this road before. The first act feels rushed, and while Keegan-Michael Key’s voice work is notably funny, other comedic attempts fall flat. There's also a prevailing sense of cynicism considering the film seems like just another cog in the franchise machine.
Recent entries in the series have leaned heavily on nostalgia, and while “Transformers One” is more age-appropriate for Gen Z and millennials to enjoy with their kids compared to the Michael Bay films, it doesn’t necessarily make it a superior film. The creative team’s effort to craft something engaging within a well-tapped IP is evident, but ultimately, the film remains a prequel built on clichéd tropes with a primary aim of selling toys. Sadly, there’s not much more than meets the eye.
Grade: C+
TRANSFORMERS ONE opens in theaters Friday, September 20th.
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