‘Transformers One’ Movie Review: Origin Story of Optimus Prime and Megatron Is Laced With Marvel Humour and Over-Familiar Plotlines (LatestLY Exclusive)

Transformers One Movie Review:  Director Josh Cooley has the unenviable task of extending a franchise by producing decent films. He achieved this with Toy Story 4, an unnecessary but enjoyable addition to the series. Now, he is assigned the same duty with the Transformers franchise, and once again, Transformers One is a decent enough entry. However, let's be honest: ‘decent’ is a rather high bar for a franchise that is known for its mindless battles between Autobots and Decepticons. ‘Transformers One’ Trailer 2 Unveiled: New Animated Film Explores the Origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Transformers One exemplifies Hollywood’s reluctance to let audiences use their imagination. If they aren't producing sequels, they’re revisiting the origins. So now we have an origin story about how Optimus Prime and Megatron, before becoming arch-enemies, were once friends. What’s more, they weren’t even known by those names. Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) were best friends working as miners in Iacon, the capital city of Cybertron. Miners, seen as inferior because they lack the cogs required to transform, are looked down upon. The city is ruled by Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm), who is waging a war against Quintesson.

Watch the Trailer of 'Transformers One':

By chance, Orion Pax and D-16 stumble upon intel about the whereabouts of the film's MacGuffin, the Matrix of Truth, a powerful object created by Cybertron’s founder, now lost. The two hitch a ride to the surface, dragging along a new companion, B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key), and their disgruntled former supervisor, Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson). What follows is a journey full of surprises and shocking secrets, as they unlock new powers and face challenges that test their friendship.

‘Transformers One’ Movie Review - Troubles Of an Origin Story

The issue with prequels and origin stories is that they often tread a predictable path, one from which only the most skilful storytelling can spring surprises. Transformers One lacks that level of skill. When a character faces mortal peril, it’s hard to feel tension, as we already know their future.

While it’s refreshing to see stripped-down versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron, allowing their humanity to shine through - a quality lacking in previous live-action films - it also feels like a substitute for the absence of human characters in Transformers One. Bumblebee Movie Review: Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena's 'Transformers' Film Brings Cheers Back Into The Franchise!

‘Transformers One’ Movie Review - What Works

That’s not to say Transformers One isn’t enjoyable. There were moments where I laughed with the audience, mainly thanks to the non-stop chatter of the annoyingly talkative B-127, who at some point in the timeline (not in this movie, though), would lose his voice and becomes known as Bumblebee (who, in my opinion, still stars in the best film of the franchise, live-action or animated). While the action sequences can feel over-edited, there are a few shining moments, particularly in the third act. However, I wish the ‘mass’ moments in these scenes - like the heroes embracing their 'Transformers* modes for the first time - were crafted with more hype-worthy appeal.

The animation is stunning, with a ‘realistic’ quality that almost convinces you this film belongs in the live-action Transformers universe. The voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Brian Tyree Henry, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jon Hamm, deliver strong performances.

‘Transformers One’ Movie Review - What Doesn't!

All said, Transformers One lacks the fresh appeal I had hoped this animated detour would bring to the franchise. The screenplay feels derivative and unoriginal, relying on familiarity. How many times have we seen a benevolent ruler turn out to be a scheming megalomaniac? Or watched stories where a populace is fed lies about their history and the world outside? Films like Disney’s Wish and Prime Video’s Fallout immediately come to mind, but you get the idea. Transformers – Rise of the Beasts Movie Review: The Autobots Are Back With a Bland Reboot!

Humour is present in Transformers One, but not the type that relies on the Autobots' interactions with humans or uncomfortable jokes. Instead, it’s the kind of humour you associate with Marvel films. Coincidentally, several cast members, including Hemsworth, Johansson, and Tyree Henry, have Marvel ties. This might explain why Transformers One feels like a Marvel film, or maybe it’s the characters themselves. Did anyone else feel that Orion Pax, Elita-1, and B-127 were just Transformers versions of Thor, Valkyrie, and Korg? Or that D-16’s disillusionment and eventual rage mirrored Baron Mordo’s turn to villainy?

This brings me to the plot conflicts in Transformers One. They don’t feel fully earned. The friendship between Orion Pax and D-16 is heartwarming but lacks the depth necessary to make their eventual falling out feel impactful. D-16’s frustration-turned-anger towards Sentinel Prime feels rushed, as if he’s being pushed towards his inevitable turn without enough build-up. The emotional weight that was present in the main relationship of the 2018 film *Bumblebee* is missing here.

‘Transformers One’ Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Transformers One delivers enough action, humour, and fan service to keep its long-time fans possibly satisfied, while the animation and voice work is commendable. However, it falls short of delivering anything groundbreaking or emotionally resonant with its overtly familiar storylines, Struggling to shake off its formulaic trappings. It simply becomes an example of Hollywood not knowing where to go and instead digging more and more into their own flimsy foundations. Now let's hop to how Glinda, the Good and Wicked Witch of the West, once used to be good friends in the upcoming Wicked. Or Mufasa and Scar used to be not actual brothers in the Lion King prequel coming soon in theatres. Sigh...

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2024 02:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).