After their incredible run in the Marvel universe (AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, AVENGERS: END GAME, CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER, and CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR), the Russo brothers have been finding less success in the streaming realm with CHERRY, THE GRAY MAN, and now THE ELECTRIC STATE. All of these movies have ideas or elements that work, but ultimately are forgettable retreads of better movies before them. Sadly, THE ELECTRIC STATE is no different as an over-budget, vanilla execution of only a few fun, original ideas.
Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) is an orphaned teen who meets a mysterious robot with a giant smiling yellow head that can only say a few catch phrases, claiming to be powered by the subconscious of her once believed dead younger brother. Joining our two heroes is Keats (Chris Pratt), a wise-cracking former soldier turned smuggler and his equally wisecracking robotic sidekick (voiced by Anthony Mackie). The four set out on a mission to save Michelle’s brother and stop the evil corporate billionaire (Stanley Tucci) who is trying to take over the world using his virtually man-powered robots.
THE ELECTRIC STATE takes place in a post apocalyptic early 90’s. Robots have learned to love and have souls and people have banished them to their own territory. These robots will soon become an army rebel resistance lead by Mr. Peanut (voiced by Woody Harrelson) who will help Michelle and Keats fight back.
THE ELECTRIC STATE has too many ideas pulling from WALL-E, STAR WARS, and even the recent THE CREATOR. Regardless of the many better science fiction films, THE ELECTRIC STATE borrows from, it is such a watered-down okay version imitation of its own big ideas that the film is almost offensive. The offense is that a film like this costs so much money and takes away from better quality, unseen things at the theater that it becomes another culprit of empowering bad film-making.
It’s amazing the great talent that is in THE ELECTRIC STATE. I always hate trashing actors and many of these stars are super talented, so I’ll just say that some people are clearly phoning it in. I’m a bit partial to Chris Pratt who clearly has comedic sense and always seems to be having fun and I always love seeing Tucci on screen.The look of the film is quite bland for such a large expense and the themes are frustratingly basic and convoluted trying to explain equality with robots.
I watched THE ELECTRIC STATE hoping for a fun little entertaining ride with cool visuals and funny jokes. Despite a a few of those positives, the movie drags, feeling much longer than it’s already too long of a run time of 125 minutes. A streamlined 90 minutes with a smaller budget, less drama, more fun would have easily made THE ELECTRIC STATE a successful little rewatchable. Unfortunately, we got a disappointing movie watching experience that will never be revisited.
