Set on the planet of Cybertron, Transformers One is a fun animated origin story that explores the early relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron, known in the movie as Orion Pax and D-16.
Directed by Josh Cooley and featuring a star-studded voice cast led by Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Scarlett Johansson, this film provides a much-needed jolt to a franchise that some may have thought was past its peak and had run its course.
Packed with plenty of action and humour families will love, it shifts focus from the human-centric stories of previous films to delve deeper into the world of the Transformers themselves.
The film portrays how, from their modest origins as unknowns on Cybertron, Optimus Prime and Megatron rise to become powerful ‘Prime’ transformers, navigating a series of dramatic twists and turns that lead to the formation of their respective groups, the Decepticons and Autobots.
Through the relationship between the two Transformers, the movie also explores how traumatic events can set individuals on totally different life courses while also paving the way for future instalments in the franchise.
Chris Hemsworth’s voice as a younger Optimus Prime may take some getting used to, especially for fans who are accustomed to Peter Cullen’s iconic deep tone in every previous Transformers film. However, Hemsworth’s performance evolves throughout the movie with the character and grows on you.
Comedian Keegan-Michael Key adds some light humour as Bumblebee, balancing out the film’s more intense moments.
Despite being animated, the film is set three billion years ago in the same universe as the recent Transformers movies, meaning its events are technically canon with all the live-action films featuring Shia LaBeouf.
Although some scenes may feel a bit rough for a PG animated robot film, it’s a movie that the whole family will enjoy and discuss for days while also inspiring a new generation of children to become Transformers fanatics.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Classification: Parental Guidance (PG)
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
In cinemas from September 19
