Transformers One Review: An Epic Franchise Best

It seems that every few years, it’s time to roll out to theaters for another Transformers movie. Just last year, the long-running series of Autobots and Decepticons gave us Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Now, we have a new entry that looks slightly different from what we’ve gotten lately. From Josh Cooley, the director of Toy Story 4, comes Transformers One, the franchise’s first theatrically released animated movie since 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie. This film serves as an origin story for the brothers-in-arms who became the archenemies known as Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Transformers One is the best Transformers movie ever made. This series has had its highs and lows, and the only time it has soared nearly as high as this is the 2018 Bumblebee film. It’s the first PG movie we’ve had in decades, and this film could introduce the characters to a younger generation while telling a story that we haven’t seen before in cinema. This movie is the X-Men: First Class of the Transformers franchise, setting us into the past to see what it was like when the hero and villain used to be friends. It’s fascinating to see who Optimus Prime and Megatron used to be and how their relationship became what it would eventually become.

We are first introduced to Orion Pax, voiced by Chris Hemsworth, years before he becomes a wise, influential leader. He works in the mines and gets along with D-16, voiced by Brian Tyree Henry. From the start, this movie gives us all the necessary exposition and then hits you with joke after joke. Everything lands nicely, the pacing is fast, and it offers quite an entertaining experience. It revitalizes the Transformers movies with a freshly animated look, similar to what Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem did.

The animation in this movie is also gorgeous. The landscapes and character designs are stunning, and every moment is vibrant. There are references here that work very well for longtime Transformers fans, including a few moments that feel incredibly satisfying for those who have wanted to see these characters done justice. Bumblebee is another character who has always been a fan favorite. Who better to play Bumblebee than Keegan-Michael Key? Key is the best part of every project he’s a part of, and fortunately, he has stayed booked and busy with his recent roles in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Wonka, Migration, and IF. He is hilarious in this film.

Although Transformers One is a more family-oriented Transformers movie, it does not feel like it’s pandering to young children. This movie has just as much action, robot battles, and even some mild language that is far less common in PG movies as of late. This film is only missing Michael Bay’s juvenile humor and male gaze. His movies felt like they were made for teenage boys, while this movie felt like it was made for everyone. While existing fans may get an extra kick out of the film, anyone can enjoy this epic adventure.

It’s easy to get invested in this set of characters. We have Orion, D-16, Bumblebee, and Elita, played by Scarlett Johansson. Her character also appeared in 2009’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and this time around, she’s a bold, strong character who you like just as much as the other characters. Everyone in this film gets some fun banter, and the screenplay from Eric Pearson, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari makes you feel the betrayal whenever any character shifts and reveals their true nature.

A casting choice that works surprisingly well is Hemsworth as the eventual Optimus Prime. It’s hard to top Peter Cullen’s voice, mainly because he has played the character in movies, TV, and video games for decades. At first glance, Hemsworth may seem like an obvious case of celebrity casting, but he does a phenomenal job here. Truthfully, I didn’t recognize his voice the first time I heard him. He dons an American accent and changes his voice just enough to the point where it sounds like it could be a young Peter Cullen. His work here is magnificent.

Henry has turned in consistently excellent performances for years, and he lends a fantastic quality to D-16’s voice. With a supporting cast that includes actors like Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, and Steve Buscemi, there is no weak link here. Everyone gets their time to shine and contribute to a well-written story filled with heart. It retains the classic Transformers concept and keeps it as innovative as ever, pushing the story into dark directions during the final half hour. With the Transformers movies, you don’t always know what level of quality you’ll be getting, but this movie offers some of the highest quality from this series. So don’t walk—roll out to see Transformers One.

SCORE: 8/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.

Jonathan Sim

Jonathan Sim is a film critic and filmmaker born and raised in New York City. He has met/interviewed some of the leading figures in Hollywood, including Christopher Nolan, Zendaya, Liam Neeson, and Denis Villeneueve. He also works as a screenwriter, director, and producer on independent short films.