Russo Brothers' 'The Electric State' falls short despite massive ambition
Alona Yadav | Mar 13, 2025, 22:40 IST
( Image credit : AP )
The Russo brothers' film adaptation of Simon Stålenhag's novel "The Electric State" on Netflix features an impressive cast, including Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, with a budget over $300 million. Set in an alternate 1994 where robots once rebelled, the movie struggles to deliver excitement despite its visual flair and talented voice cast.
The Russo brothers' adaptation of Simon Stålenhag's illustrated novel "The Electric State" arrives on Netflix with all the ingredients for a blockbuster success yet somehow manages to miss the mark.
This ambitious sci-fi adventure boasts an impressive cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, and Ke Huy Quan, directed by the team behind some of cinema's highest-grossing films. Despite reportedly commanding a budget exceeding $300 million, the film struggles to generate the excitement its premise promises.
Set in an alternate 1994, the story follows a world where service robots once rebelled for rights and freedom, leading to a devastating four-year war. Following humanity's victory, credited to drone technology created by tech billionaire Ethan Skate (Tucci), society has devolved into screen-addicted zombies using "Neurocasters" to escape their mundane realities while digital avatars handle their responsibilities.
Brown portrays Michelle, an orphaned teenager who lost her family in a car accident. When a cartoon character robot appears at her foster home, she becomes convinced it holds a connection to her deceased prodigy brother Christopher (Woody Norman). This revelation launches her cross-country journey into the robot "exclusion zone," accompanied by war veteran smuggler Keats (Pratt) and his robot sidekick (Anthony Mackie), while evading a robot bounty hunter (Esposito).
The film draws clear inspiration from works like "The Creator," "WALL-E," and "Ready Player One," but fails to elevate its borrowed elements into something distinctive or compelling. While the robot designs deserve praise for their thoughtful execution—particularly those recreating Stålenhag's illustrations of decaying mechanical beings—the action sequences grow repetitive across the film's bloated runtime.
The celebrity voice cast for the robots includes Woody Harrelson, Hank Azaria, Brian Cox, and Jenny Slate, though viewers may find themselves distracted trying to identify these familiar voices. Meanwhile, the human leads never quite establish convincing chemistry. Pratt delivers his customary one-liners without breaking new ground, while Brown appears somewhat disengaged in what feels like yet another teen adventure role. Both ultimately come across as Hollywood stars in nineties costumes rather than authentic characters.
Norman's performance as Christopher stands out as the film's most emotionally authentic element, providing a rare moment of genuine connection in an otherwise soulless spectacle.
"The Electric State" seems positioned to inspire future filmmakers with its Amblin-style adventure and sci-fi wonder, but lacks the spark that might elevate it to memorable status. Instead, it joins the growing collection of expensive, algorithm-friendly content that feels manufactured rather than created—leaving viewers with impressive visuals but little emotional resonance.
This ambitious sci-fi adventure boasts an impressive cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, and Ke Huy Quan, directed by the team behind some of cinema's highest-grossing films. Despite reportedly commanding a budget exceeding $300 million, the film struggles to generate the excitement its premise promises.
Set in an alternate 1994, the story follows a world where service robots once rebelled for rights and freedom, leading to a devastating four-year war. Following humanity's victory, credited to drone technology created by tech billionaire Ethan Skate (Tucci), society has devolved into screen-addicted zombies using "Neurocasters" to escape their mundane realities while digital avatars handle their responsibilities.
Brown portrays Michelle, an orphaned teenager who lost her family in a car accident. When a cartoon character robot appears at her foster home, she becomes convinced it holds a connection to her deceased prodigy brother Christopher (Woody Norman). This revelation launches her cross-country journey into the robot "exclusion zone," accompanied by war veteran smuggler Keats (Pratt) and his robot sidekick (Anthony Mackie), while evading a robot bounty hunter (Esposito).
The film draws clear inspiration from works like "The Creator," "WALL-E," and "Ready Player One," but fails to elevate its borrowed elements into something distinctive or compelling. While the robot designs deserve praise for their thoughtful execution—particularly those recreating Stålenhag's illustrations of decaying mechanical beings—the action sequences grow repetitive across the film's bloated runtime.
The celebrity voice cast for the robots includes Woody Harrelson, Hank Azaria, Brian Cox, and Jenny Slate, though viewers may find themselves distracted trying to identify these familiar voices. Meanwhile, the human leads never quite establish convincing chemistry. Pratt delivers his customary one-liners without breaking new ground, while Brown appears somewhat disengaged in what feels like yet another teen adventure role. Both ultimately come across as Hollywood stars in nineties costumes rather than authentic characters.
Norman's performance as Christopher stands out as the film's most emotionally authentic element, providing a rare moment of genuine connection in an otherwise soulless spectacle.
"The Electric State" seems positioned to inspire future filmmakers with its Amblin-style adventure and sci-fi wonder, but lacks the spark that might elevate it to memorable status. Instead, it joins the growing collection of expensive, algorithm-friendly content that feels manufactured rather than created—leaving viewers with impressive visuals but little emotional resonance.