For the Robots in Disguise, We See How It All Began

From left: Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry), 
Bumblebee (Keegan-Michael Key), Elita-1 
(Scarlett Johansson), and Optimus Prime 
(Chris Hemsworth) in "Transformers One"
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com

Given how Hasbros’ famous toy line, Transformers, has had seven live-action films since 2007, it might be easy to forget that they were preceded by an animated film and several animated series.  While there have been some animated shows over the last few years, a lot of the attention has been focused on the big-budget films from the last decade and a half.  With “Transformers: The Movie” coming out almost 40 years ago, it seemed rather unlikely that we’d see the Autobots and Decepticons on the big screen again in an animated format.

For the latest film in the franchise, there’s a return to animation, but instead of 2D, it brings the robots into 3D animation with director Josh Cooley’s “Transformers One.”  Instead of simply relying on the brand name to deliver its story, his film drives forward with fleshed-out characters, gorgeous visuals, and a surprisingly dramatic story.

The movie follows the friendship of Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry).  When they come across a discovery that will change the course of the planet Cybertron forever, they’ll go on a journey where the decisions they make will eventually turn them against each other.

Hemsworth and Henry bring compelling voice work to their roles as robots who have a deep friendship that will soon be tested, providing a great anchor as the story expands.  Right from their first scene, you get a sense of their bond through the chemistry of the actors.  They’re a lot of fun to listen to as they banter and disagree on what to do in terms of their newfound mission, providing a humorous connection that soon gives way to the animosity that consumes their comradeship.  You can hear the dedication in Hemsworth and Henry’s voice work that they give to these characters, doing justice to the script and knowing that this isn’t a cartoon made just for young audiences, but is something that offers much more on an emotional level than what the live-action films gave us.  The strength of their voice acting and their commitment to their characters is a huge factor in capturing the epic feel for this world.

Acting as reinforcements to Hemsworth and Henry is a fine selection of supporting performances of Cybertronians.  There’s Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1, who grudgingly and comically has to put up with Optimus and Megatron’s antics; Keegan-Michael Key as the never-shuts-up Bumblebee; Steve Buscemi as the intimidating Starscream; Laurence Fishburne as the wise Alpha Trion; and Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime, the leader of Cybertron.  Each of these cast members brings an abundance of personality to their characters, making them feel as well-drawn as the two leads.

The screenplay by Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari has a couple of predictable elements (outside of the inevitable friends-become-foes aspect), but it’s held afloat by giving us characters that have emotional depth, instead of making them feel like they’re there to sell toys.  The story gives us plenty to see within the bond between Optimus and Megatron, showing us their alliance before slowly morphing it into the adversarial relationship that we’ve all come to know.  Although this movie has many characters and offers a lot of details in the Transformers mythology, the writers create a story that’s accessible for people who have just a casual understanding of the franchise.  Despite this being a story that's based on toys, the narrative doesn’t treat its audiences like merchandise consumers, but rather engages them with respect and gives them something that’s more than it could’ve been.  It has jokes at all of the right moments and doesn’t shy away from exhibiting the poignancy of the two lead characters breaking away from each other.

Cooley, who has a history with Pixar (including directing “Toy Story 4”), offers his talents in bringing the Transformers and Cybertron to colorful, pulsing life.  As soon as you see these characters in their environment in this format on the big screen, it’s clear that Cooley and his team have done whatever they can to absorb you in this world.  The stunning 3D animation displays the grand nature of Iacon City in the sub-levels of Cybertron, as well as the danger-plagued landscapes on the planet’s surface level, bringing across the epic scope that’s needed for a franchise with a lore this deep.  Inside these huge environments, Cooley gives us some thrilling action, such as the Iacon 5000 race throughout the city, exciting battles on Cybertron’s service, and the final confrontation between good and evil.  Aside from the action that we expect from this franchise, Cooley uses his visuals to have the character-driven moments succeed on a dramatic scale, allowing us to experience the weight of the characters’ decisions and feelings as their destinies unfold.

After several years of seeing the Transformers in live action, “Transformers One” offers a refreshing way in which to experience these characters and worlds on the big screen.  With the equal attention to both drama and action, we see how, even though the quality of the movies in this franchise has experienced more lows than highs, it can always show the potential to transform.

Grade: A-