In a series of films that’s seen revenue eclipse $5 billion, the Transformers had seemingly done all that was possible. After The Last Knight and Bumblebee, we see a bit of a pivot from Hasbro with their new prequel story Transformers One.
Unlike the story that’s been formed in the past several films, this animated epic pulls the curtain back on a new perspective of the Autobots. Lacking autonomy and separation by class, Optimus Prime existed as Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth), working his days away in a mine. But he wasn’t alone, his best friend B-16 (Bryan Tyree Henry) was there with him, long before he went by Megatron. While B-16 focused more on their work responsibilities, Orion Pax was absent-minded and silly, often wandering off in search of “more” — information, history, etc. When he finally does stumble upon a piece of history that couldn’t be explained, it engulfs him and everyone in his orbit into a world of trouble.
Unlike the Hasbro films we’ve seen in the past, Transformers One gives us a new lens to view Optimus Prime (Orion Pax) and Megatron (B-16). We’ve been accustomed to dry speeches and cliché leadership for so long that it’s been his entire identity. Here, we see a complete 180-degree turn, showing his class clown-ish demeanor, light-hearted enthusiasm, and insatiable desire to learn more about their world, Cybertron.
What a run of form for Bryan Tyree Henry. The past three years have been huge for the actor but this year alone, he’s starred in heavy hitters like Transformers One, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and just recently The Fire Inside which premiered at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). Here, he lends his voice to B-16 and shows the crescendo from best pal to evil villain.
Once B-16 and Orion Pax discover why they’ve been reduced to life in the mines and who’s behind it, Pax leads them, along with B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key) and Elita-1 (Scarlet Johansson), on a mission that will change their lives and the future of Cybertron.
Transformers One gets a 9.5 out of 10. The humor and demeanor alone from Orion Pax were worth the wait for the prequel. It’s the ultimate thrill ride for any Transformers fan. Some of the jokes went awry or felt a bit forced, but aside from that, it’s an epic adventure that you should experience on IMAX if possible. And in true Michael Bay fashion, there are plenty of explosions to enjoy!
Transformers One will premiere in theaters on Friday, Sept. 20.
-Jon Jones
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