The Transformers franchise has earned its massive following after releasing countless TV and film iterations in its nearly 40-year history. While only a few have found critical success, the interest in seeing two giant robot factions at war with each other while humans are caught in the crossfire has never waned. However, ‘Transformers One‘ director Josh Cooley, using a script written by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari, does something different by removing the human element but not its humanity and returning to the start. As a result, we get a shiny, well-oiled cinematic machine that not only tells a compelling story about robots that can transform, but also entertains and satisfies the audience with its engaging narrative and stunning visuals.
What makes a film like ‘Transformers One’ so accessible is its status as an origins story that doesn’t require prior knowledge of the extensive Transformer mythology. It doesn’t redefine the concept of an origins story but shows audiences how one should be told. In a way, it’s the kind of film that appeals to all generations, using its nostalgia to connect to those who grew up with it and offering spectacle and excitement for those who are new to it. By going back to basics and telling a very human story about a friendship between two transformers before they became legends, ‘Transformers One’ creates a shared experience that transcends generations.
Set long before the Autobots and Decepticons arrived on Earth, “Transformers One” informs us about the creation of Cybertron and how an ancient relic called The Matrix of Leadership empowered the planet with a vital resource called Energon. The Matrix of Leadership was lost when a great war between the original Primes and an alien species called Quintessons occurred, causing Energon to stop flowing after its conclusion.
As such, Transformers were split into two classes. The ones with cogs that allow the robots to transform into vehicles, and the ones without cogs that rob the robots of their ability to transform. With the Matrix lost, we are introduced to two non-transforming miners: the ambitious and optimistic Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and the risk-averse and dedicated D16 (Brian Tyree Henry). Orion Pax wants more than to live a life of servitude mining for Energon to overlords. At the same time, D-16 believes that recognition for hard work will help get him out of the system.
Orion Pax constantly sets out to prove that he is more than meets the eye and wants D-16 to be a part of that adventure. Though the latter would much rather play itself and object to all of the risks, he finds how liberating these adventures, like participating in a Transformers race when they cannot transform. While it’s dangerous and could disgrace them, they take advantage of the transformers in their vehicle forms and the city’s infrastructure. Such a gamble catches the attention of the Cybertronian hero Sentinal Prime (Jon Hamm), who promises them all the glory that’s beyond mining for Energon. However, before the two can receive their prize, they are banished by a Darkwing (Isaac C. Singleton Jr.) to work in the lower levels of Cybertron with the hilariously annoying B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key).
Eventually, the three discover a record of Alpha Trion (Laurence Fishburne) disclosing the possible location of the lost Matrix of Leadership. So, the three decide to leave their prison and find a train to take them to their desired location. Along the way, they are joined by Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson), a former Energon mining supervisor, who is demoted to waste duty because Orion Pax decided to break protocol and save an injured Cybertroning from being crushed by a collapsing tunnel.
Eventually, all four reach their destination and learn the horrible truth about their exalted Sentinal Prime. Such a revelation fractures the friendship between Orion Pax and D-16, and soon, that bond splits into two. While the four eventually gain the ability to transform, how they use their newfound powers decisively puts them on opposite sides. For Orion Pax, he seeks accountability through a fair and just process. In contrast, D-16 seeks revenge for all of the lies he has been told and all of the pain his fellow Cybertronians endured to keep Sentinal Prime’s illusion of peace and prosperity alive.
When the four Cybertronians are together, they are like a rock band. All have strong points of view, with Orion Pax wanting to lead the way to find the Matrix of Leadership and save Cybertron. Alita is assertive and immediately takes charge should anything go wrong. D-16, though reluctant to be on such a quest, is there to help his one and only friend come out of this alive. And then there’s B-127, a Cybertronian with a heart of gold and is the source of the comic levity, making audiences with every joke and quip while annoying the other three with his inability to stop talking.
Cooley brings heart and humor to a franchise that has been panned for too long. By finding the humanity in giant transforming robots, audiences can better relate to the characters on screen. While ‘Transformers One’ removes the human element that has plagued previous cinematic installments, the film remains humanistic because of the humanity in the characters. They have dreams and seek recognition for their hard work. They react in ways humans would when they learn the dark truth. They support each other through challenging times and come into conflict when their differences reach their peak. These journeys of self-discovery and paths toward destinies make for some compelling storytelling, especially for Orion Pax and D-16. The film’s ability to engage and invest the audience in the characters’ journeys is a testament to its compelling storytelling.
Though, “Transformers One” isn’t without its issues. With a 104-minute runtime, the film establishes the exposition. It makes room for character development while moving through the worldbuilding at a lightning pace. However, the film’s plot is straightforward, keeping us engaged with the commanding voices and character chemistry. And the animation is superb. The way Lacon is presented to us is like a golden sanctuary in the sky where the upper class transforming Cybertronians live. Contrast that to the layering mines of Cybertron, where Cybertronians work tirelessly in a place where smelted metal and oil meet. Unbeknownst to the miners, news breaks of Sentinel Prime giving false hopes inspire those like Orion Pax and D-16 to work harder. As if the work conditions weren’t bad enough, these miners must rest and recharge upright. The way everything moves, from characters running and walking to how transportation works and how the surface of Cybertron changes, looks so polished and sleek. And the epic action sequences make “Transformers One” worth watching on the big screen.
“Transformers One” is a nice change of pace for a franchise that’s in desperate need of new ideas. It explores uncharted parts of the mythology through familiar ideas yet tells the story in a way that feels fresh and new. The exciting part of all of this is how the voice cast keeps us fully engaged and the use of Easter Eggs and nostalgia keeps fans smiling. It is an excellent entry point for those who have yet to see the Autobots and Decepticons clash. Above all, “Transformers One” is a reminder to all that animation is cinema.
