Defying all the odds, “Transformers One” has taken every stereotype about the Transformers film series and left them in the dust.
On a technical level, the seven-film, live-action Hasbro-based franchise had consistently broken new ground. The original trilogy was nominated for a combined eight Academy Awards for visual effects and sound design, but when it came to storytelling and compelling characters, the series always fell flat.
Over the course of the last four Transformers films, box office numbers gradually fell below $500 million, production on new films slowed down and the franchise went from a billion-dollar juggernaut to a middling theater mainstay.
With the exception of 2018’s “Bumblebee,” the film series has been divisive at best and an utter slogfest at worst. “Transformers One” changes everything. Not only does it use the medium of animation to its fullest, but it also redefines what Transformers movies can be.
The story’s backbone rests on the relationship between Orion Pax (later known as Optimus Prime), voiced by Chris Hemsworth, and D-16 (later known as Megatron), voiced by Bryan Tyree Henry.
Instead of a hero-villain dynamic, the two have a brotherly relationship that carries the first act. Through their eyes, the film shows their planet Cybertron and home city of Iacon as full of classism and idolization with the main characters being on the lowest rung.
Through the hour and 45-minute runtime, the duo uncovers the lies and inequality created by the main villain, Sentinel Prime, voiced by Jon Hamm. Rapidly, Pax and D-16 see how they and their friends have been abused and lied to by Sentinel Prime and hastily seek justice, not just for themselves but for the entire population of their home.
The crux of the second act hangs on the slow division between Pax and D-16. While both desire recompense for the injustice of their people, their motivations are driven by two opposing emotions: Orion’s justice through mercy and D-16’s justice through revenge.
Supporting actors Keegan-Michael Key as B-127 and Scarlett Johansson as Elita-1 are well-cast in their roles, but it is undoubtedly Hemsworth and Henry whose voice acting steals the show.
Henry gives D-16 a lighthearted and joyous feel before turning harsh and unrelenting before the credits roll, while Hemsworth’s performance as Orion evolves from a joking dreamer to the grounded yet caring leader fans know him to be.
In its final act, the film doesn’t shy away from the darkness of evil. Good characters die. The oil of Autobots spills. Revenge isn’t pretty. The blocky aesthetic and lack of human characters prevent the film from becoming exceedingly brutal, but its heavy subject matter and unrelenting combat prove one thing: this movie demands to be taken seriously.
“Transformers One” is an impactful film that uses character and emotion with concepts of justice and free will to build the film. The snappy and dynamic action paired with character designs based on the original 1980s television show is the glue that helps bind the film together, rather than the main appeal.
The characters are carefully written, realistic, smart and visceral. The message of the importance of justice isn’t heavy-handed and, thanks to the patient pacing, doesn’t step on its toes. The audience is never rushed towards a heart-pounding and satisfying conclusion.
Even with everything going for it, “Transformers One” is struggling to make a profit. A messy marketing campaign portrayed the film as a ‘kids' movie’ with crass humor, and failed to show the true spark. Many die-hard Transformers fans were unsatisfied with the departure from the live-action format.
Released in theaters on Sept. 20 and costing a projected $75 million, the Autobots have only made $120 million after a month. With skeptical fans and DreamWorks’ new animated feature, “The Wild Robot,” taking a chunk of their target demographic, “Transformers One” may be nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars without breaking $200 million.
Do yourself a favor. Go watch “Transformers One” before it leaves theaters, whether you love animated movies or crave high-octane action sequences. Your definition of justice will be challenged because this film is more than meets the eye.
