With the resurgence of movies based on toys in recent years, it was high time to reach into the past and dust off the hidden gem that started it all. Many people who grew up watching the “Transformers” television show will remember that in 1986 Hasbro released a full length animated feature film called “The Transformers: The Movie.” This film contains a fairly predictable “Transformers” plot, meaning it’s convoluted and features loads of meaningless action and prolonged fighting.  Awesome.

The movie begins with a cold open:  the “camera” casually flies us through the quiet beauties of outer space.  Planets, stars, galaxies and celestial debris float peacefully and gracefully through the great black expanse.  We gradually close in on a small Death Star-like planet bustling with all sorts of alien robotic life forms.  Suddenly, a giant spherical machine, known as Unicron, targets the planet and without warning begins to suck it in like a vacuum, crushing and destroying as it gobbles up everything in its path. The planet’s stunned inhabitants head to a spaceship to escape.  After the planet is thoroughly destroyed, the classic “Transformers” theme, performed by British glam-metal band, Lion, plays over the opening credits, which lists easily the most impressive cast of any animated feature film based on a toy.  More on that later.

After the credits, we learn that it is now 2005 — 20 years after the end of the second season, but sometime before the third season. The film was essentially made to bridge the two seasons so that fans of the show would know why their favorite characters would not be in the third season and how they had died.

We learn that the Decepticons are trying to destroy the Autobots’ planet and that the Autobots are preparing to defend it. The Autobots seem eager to attack the Decepticons but their fearless leader, Optimus Prime, informs them that they don’t yet have the requisite energy cubes to launch a full assault. He sends a ship to Autobot City to gather supplies for the imminent battle.

Not much time is wasted before the first fight occurs, which was good move considering their target market was the first generation hit by the ADHD craze.  The Decepticons attack the supply ship and kill Ironhide, Ratchet, Prowl, and Brawn. They in turn invade the earth disguised as the Autobot ship.

Hordes of Decepticon reinforcements arrive and attack Autobot city, leaving it in shambles and the remaining Autobots fearing for their lives. They call for help from Optimus Prime who, upon arriving at the scene, single handedly manhandles the entire lot of Decepticons, until all that’s left is his arch nemesis, Megatron.  After a battle of the titans, Megatron is defeated and begs for mercy, which throws Optimus off long enough for him to grab a gun.  Optimus is made to pay for his mercy with his life.  Before dying, he passes the matrix of leadership on to Ultra Magnus.

The Decepticons discard the broken in their ranks, including Megatron, into the nether regions of space.  They eventually run into Unicron who offers them new bodies and life to do his will. Megatron is rejuvenated and renamed Galvatron, and replacing Frank Welker, is now voiced by none other than Leonard Nimoy.

Unicron then consumes the moons of Cybertron, including Jazz, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper and Spike, who are rescued later.  Ultra Magnus is destroyed and Hot Rod uses the matrix to become Rodimus Prime. He becomes the leader of the Autobots and destroys Unicron while rescuing Jazz, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper and Spike.  The Autobots take control of Cybertron again and the film ends with Unicron’s head orbiting Cybertron like a satellite.  Writer Ron Friedman certainly earned his paycheck on this one.

Now, about that fantastic cast.  Nimoy’s talents are only the tip of the iceberg.  In addition to the large number of voices from the original television cast including Welker, Peter Cullen, Scatman Crothers (in his final role), John Moschitta, Jr. and Casey Kasem, a mish-mash of varied and unbelievable talent came together for this thing.  Judd Nelson, Eric Idle, that kid from “Over the Top,” Robert Stack (“Unsolved Mysteries”), Lionel Stander, Roger C. Carmel, Christopher Collins, Don Messick and last and certainly most impressive, the great Orson Welles in his final performance, all found something in “The Transformers: The Movie” worthy of their talents.  Eat your heart out Michael Bay.

The only real bone I have to pick in this department is with Blurr. I have nothing against John Moschitta, Jr., I just can’t stand his character. It is this man’s opinion that he is one of the most ridiculous and annoying characters ever created, rivaling even the despised Jar Jar Binks for top honors.

Another bright point is the now hopelessly cheesy music.  The opening scene with Lion’s earnestly rocking theme makes it almost impossible not to get excited for what’s to come.  A killer mix of nostalgia, cheese and genuinely blood-pumping 80s hair-metal is hard to ignore, especially for someone whose childhood was defined by such.  The rest of the soundtrack keeps the film moving along nicely with gems like Stan Bush’s classic “The Touch” and “Dare to be Stupid” by Weird Al Yankovic, and a handful of original pieces from Vince DiCola, including the powerful “Death of Optimus Prime.”

Wholly a product of their time, the sound effects are a fantastic time capsule of classic 1980s pop culture. From the weapons firing to the sound it makes when they transform, everything is spot on.  Those sound effects, along with the brilliant cast, irresistible soundtrack and great action, are where this film really shines.  Its only real weaknesses reside in the script’s occasionally convoluted storyline and in the missing bridges between some of the bigger set pieces. Luckily Nelson Shin, Director and Producer, was able to keep the audience drawn in primarily with that soundtrack during the slower, dryer parts of the film.

Overall, 84 minutes feels a bit too long for a “Transformers” cartoon, though a valiant effort by talented people makes “The Transformers: The Movie” more than worthy as a meaningless bit of entertainment and effective dose of nostalgia.