Something of a Gen X touchstone, this animated feature based on a TV show based on a toy line remains kitsch, charming, useless fun.
The plotting is incomprehensible — something about Autobots, Decepticons and a colossal robot planet voiced by Orson Welles — and the animation is cheapjack, but there’s something endearing about its anime-esque action, cheesy pop soundtrack (“You’ve got the touch!”) and sense of its own convictions. And any kids’ film brave enough to kill off its hero in the first third should be applauded.
