TRANSFORMERS ONE Review — Terrifically Transformed Animation
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Transformers One review reveals the heretofore inconceivable: It’s one of the best animated films of the year!
I never thought I’d see myself write this about a Transformers movie, but Transformers One is actually an exceptional film!
I used to dread going to these live action/animation mashups, because I found them to be the schlocky imaginings of Michael Bay at his cash-grabbing worst. I know that’s harsh, but for me, one who never played with Transformers when I was a kid, I found them silly and annoying. The live action humans always overacted and never quite fitting in.
But now that the Transformers are inhabiting an exclusively animated world, they get to tell a remarkably deep, multi-layered story and provide vibrant action scenes that are a theme park ride waiting to happen. I’d suggest seeing it in IMAX to get the full adrenaline rush.
The quality of Transformers One is a lot less surprising when you realize that the directing was in the more than capable hands of Josh Cooley, who also helmed Toy Story 4, and wrote the original Inside Out. The guy is a master of animated story telling.
Transformers One review: Where it all begins
Transformers One is the unlikely origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, who started out as close as brothers but eventually became sworn enemies. They start out as lowly (but spirited) miners on the planet Cybertron, destined to lead a humble life because they don’t have the cogs necessary to transform.
But their lofty, and sometimes reckless dreams lift them up and out of their underground drudgery and hurl them into a hero’s journey that will spark a revolution—and an entire franchise.
Transformers One delves into deep themes including loyalty, leadership, service, compassion, power, anger and forgiveness, all coated in breathtaking action animation, with a good dose of humor.
It’s a great relief to see an animated film that doesn’t push that tired and fallacious message that “you can do anything” for a change. As encouraging as it sounds for the little ones, no one can do anything. As hard as I try, at this point in my life I’m not going to win an Olympic gold medal in backstroke, or become Chris Hemsworth’s personal masseuse.
Speaking (or writing) of Chris Hemsworth, I admit I was lured to the screening by what I thought was the promise of watching Hemsworth and Jon Hamm, two of my favorite Hollywood hunks, for a couple of hours.
So I was surprised, and felt a little foolish, when I realized that this was a 100% animated film, and I’d only be hearing their voices. But these voices, as well as those of Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne and Keegan Michael Key helped elevate Transformers One to top of the year animated film levels.
Rated PG
1 Hour 44 Minutes
If this Transformers One review encourages you to run to the cineplex, get times and tickets first at Fandango.com.
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Transformers One review reveals the heretofore inconceivable: It’s one of the best animated films of the year!
