The Electric State: Film Review
The Electric State has not been reviewed kindly so far, and the Rotten Tomatoes score currently sits at a dire 19%. Naturally, I went in with low expectations and came away baffled because I liked it. I feel like I saw a different film from everybody else.
The film, directed by Marvel duo Anthony and Joe Russo, is set in an alternative, retro-futuristic version of the ’90s following a failed uprising by sentient robots. They are now living in exile in the Exclusion Zone, and the tech company Sentre, run by Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci), is monitoring them to make sure it stays that way.
However, one day, a robot looking like the cartoon Kid Cosmo approaches orphaned teen Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), and she discovers that it’s controlled by her brother Christopher (Woody Norman), who she thought died years ago. She embarks on an adventure to find Christopher with the help of a smuggler, Keats (Chris Pratt), and his robot BFF Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie), who help her navigate the Exclusion Zone.
It’s not the most original story in the world – it actually feels very familiar – but I loved the world in which this was set. The backstory of the uprising was so interesting, the world-building was excellent, and the featured robots were brilliant, particularly the leader Mr. Peanut (voiced by Woody Harrelson), the baseball-throwing Popfly (Brian Cox), the computer P.C. (Ke Huy Quan) and the adorable postwoman Penny Pal (Jenny Slate). I’m sure there must have been a stronger story to be told within this setting, but the source material, Simon Stålenhag‘s graphic novel of the same name, is to blame for that.
You may think this would have Avengers vibes since it reunites the Russo brothers with Marvel screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, as well as stars Pratt and Mackie. However, The Electric State doesn’t have the same sense of humour or a high success rate with jokes, although the robots and Pratt are quite amusing. He brings much-needed charm and levity to proceedings, and I particularly liked his banter with Herman. I’m not sure about the wig and he is essentially playing Star-Lord again, with some added Han Solo vibes.
Brown tries to bring emotion and stakes to the story, but it somehow lacks dramatic tension. I blame this on the iffy script, which is such a mixed bag. There are some smart lines, while others are absolute stinkers. One was so bad I wrote it down: “Our world is a tyre fire floating on an ocean of piss.” Poor Tucci; he is not a particularly convincing villain here. Perhaps he just gave up due to his dialogue, but he’s definitely phoning in this performance.
Yes, I did have some gripes with The Electric State, but it doesn’t deserve such a low score. The climactic action sequence is a great watch, the CGI is perfectly fine, the robot voice actors are amazing (especially Mackie), and the parallels to today’s society are interesting. I liked it!
Now streaming on Netflix
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
