Transformers One Review

There is a scene in the middle of Transformers One that encapsulates the joyous vibe of the film. Having procured "cogs" - a module that Cybertronians need in order to transform - a group of former cog-less miner bots try to figure out the mechanics of how to transform as they tumble down a hillside. Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth), the leader of the ragtag troupe, stumbles down on a foot that turns into a skating wedge. B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key) tries a codeword, "Transform!", turns into a car, but discovers it still has hands for wheels. The scene ends when D-19 (Brian Tyree Henry), Pax's best buddy, who is slowly becoming a hot-headed, disillusioned bot after learning the reality of Cybertron's past, is startled when his hand transforms into a cannon blaster. It is a familiar superhero trope - discovery of powers - but in Transformers, the effect is beguiling.

Fans of the Transformers franchise haven't exactly been beating their chests for an origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron or the great rivalry that destroys planet Cybertron, exiling the Autobots to Earth. Their history is an unquestioned part of Transformers lore. But Josh Cooley's animated prequel makes a case for heading back in time, this time to the alien planet of Cybertron for a surprisingly sweet underdog story.

After a war with the Quintessons, an arachnid-like alien race, the Primes have vanished, and the Matrix of Leadership - once the source of endless Energon for their planet - is lost. Now, Cybertron runs on mined Energon, extracted by a lower class of cog-less Cybertronians who can't transform. Meanwhile, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), Cybertron's current leader, scours the desolate landscape for traces of the Matrix - or at least that's the story he tells the overworked miners of his planet.

Orion Pax, a cheerful rebel miner with a sense of wonder, ventures to the surface, against the advice of his friend moody D-16. Along the way, they are joined by a rule-following Elita (Scarlett Johansson) and a hilariously enthusiastic Autobot named B-127 (yes, that Bee). On the surface they stumble into Sentinel Prime's sinister secret.

The dry wit feels distinctly Hollywood-esque, as if the characters are inhabited by humans wearing a metallic skin. You might catch a Cybertronian doing pull-ups (does that even work for metal bodies?), or notice a face ripple in slow motion when punched. And you learn on Cybertron, "corroded" is a slur, worse than "rusted". The social hierarchy of Cybertron is familiar too: a manipulative leader peddling propaganda, maintaining a cruel hierarchy between those with cogs and those destined for the mines. Platitudes abound: Alpha Trion, a fallen Prime, insists, "It's not the cog in your chest, but the spark in your core that defines a Transformer," while Orion Pax boldly proclaims, "Transformers, Roll Out." Such lines make the film feel, well, too familiar.

The film's brisk pace means even the heavier political themes slide down easily, though some nuance is sacrificed. Megatron's rise feels a bit rushed and unconvincing, and any emotional gut-punch to a crucial betrayal scene is wholly absent. The real treasures of the film are glimpses of Cybertron itself: Iacon City's stalactite-like architecture or the hauntingly beautiful jagged desolation of the surface world, where robotic deer wander aimlessly (feeding on what, exactly?). Or their unique transportation system where trains run on invisible tracks.

You'd never expect a film about Prime and Megatron to feature so many comedic voices. At times, the characters' voices blur into one another, almost indistinguishable in their tenor and humour. A series of frenetic fights don't do much that is original or striking, and the stakes rarely seem cosmic. Characters like Starscream, Shockwave and Soundwave get a goofy makeover. And the toy-like figures in the 3D experience of the film dilute its gravity. Yet, when it finally gets serious - delivering a spine-tingling sequence showcasing the birth of Optimus Prime - it redeems itself, if only briefly, in a way that makes you feel it was worth the price of admission.