New Namek is being invaded by overpowered robots, and Dende, who has become the new guardian earlier in this continuity, sent Goku and the gang to investigate. These new robots pose a massive threat since they can take attacks even from Piccolo before changing his fighting style who is the strongest character at this point from the good guys. Amongst the robots is a robot version of Cooler who happened to survive his encounter with Son Goku.
Can Goku defeat the powered up Cooler and can they stop the Gete Star who is the host computer who tries absorbing the planet which explains why all these robots can even pose a threat?
The fights in this movie are amazing and the characters have to figure out how to penetrate the armor of these robots. Metal or Meta Cooler is also a unique foe with various tricks up his sleeve such as regeneration which fixes issues in its components or Instant Transmission.
This movie is also the first time Goku and Vegeta team up and fight alongside each other which wouldn't happen in the main continuity until the Boo Saga. It is also the first time Vegeta appears in a Dragon Ball movie and it doesn't feel like he is shoehorned in like in other movies since his assistance is pretty much required to finish the main villalin.
While the artstyle and still frames look awful, the animation itself is fluid and looks great. And being a movie mostly focused on action, it does a really good job at it and the fight against Cooler is memorable because of the shift in power. Cooler really feels like an unbeatable force in this movie since he gets stronger each time he repairs himself even pressuring two Super Saiyans. Even the images seen can give first time viewers the creeps being unusually scary how Cooler outclasses the until then unbeatable warrior or legend.
But it wouldn't be a Dragon Ball movie without comedy sprinkled around and the good thing is there are no sudden tone shifts that ruin these intense scenes. Comic relief is provided mainly by Yajirobe, Oolong and Master Roshi who just came to sightsee I guess.
In terms of movie cliches, it establishes Vegeta's role of saving Goku but telling that only he can kill him. And some of the flashy scenes like the Big Bang Attack and Instant Transmission being used. It is also one of few movies where they win with teamwork without giving away energy to Goku.
This movie is very underrated despite having a popular character like Cooler in it probably because of the akward still frames. But if you like Dragon Ball Z for the amazing fights, good humor and the characters, you will probably enjoy watching Cooler's return.
