The Electric State: A Wasteful Blockbuster Failure

The Electric State is based on the 2018 graphic novel of the same name by Simon Stålenhag and the newest Netflix blockbuster from The Russo Brothers in their latest standalone film before heading back to Marvel for the next number of years with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Set in the aftermath of a robot uprising in an alternate version of the 1990’s, the film follows orphaned teenager Michelle (Brown), who leaves home to venture across the American west in search of her brother. Along the way she joins forces with a cartoon inspired robot seemingly controlled by her brother, a smuggler named Keats (Pratt) and Keat’s wisecracking robot sidekick Herman (Anthony Mackie). Together they must venture into the Exclusion Zone, a walled off corner of the desert where robots exist on their own.

Easily the weakest film from The Russo Brothers, The Electric State fails at capturing the magic, heart, and charm of the Amblin/Spielberg Blockbusters from the 1980’s that is trying to emulate. With a reported budget of $320 million, it has become one of the most expensive films ever made, the result is merely dull, soulless, and empty. Though the source material is beloved, and adapting it into a feature would seem like a good idea on paper, it is clear that The Russo Brothers weren’t the right choice for this project from the get-go as they somehow turn it into a formulaic, and rather predictable blockbuster, not unlike much of today’s fare.

While Brown and Pratt are fine, they have both been so much better elsewhere, don’t have great chemistry as carbon copies of the same poorly written characters they always find themselves playing, though this time with less charm and likability. Really a simple story about a teenage girl looking for her long lost brother that happened to have a bunch of robots in the background, the film loses focus and strays from that story so many times along the way, that supposed emotional connection it desperately wants audiences to become invested in simply isn’t there. Meanwhile, for some reason, The Russo Brothers always land talented casts, and it is crazy how many talented actors are a part of this cast, be it as a voice role, cameo, or as a part of the main cast. All thing considered, regardless of the kind of role they have here, it is just sad seeing how many talented actors are wasted here.

In the end, as much as some of the reviews for this film may already lead audiences to believe, it is nowhere near a full on failure and does at least has some redeeming qualities to help make it as least a passable experience. Outside of the occasional moment of flimsy green screen, the visual effects are simply wonderful, especially the design of the robots. The film’s large budget could be felt here, serving as one of the rare times where the filmmakers put that budget to good use. The action sequences are decent enough, and the film is never boring, moving at a pace that doesn’t make it feel its 2+ hour length. To top it all of, the score is good, and the soundtrack offers of a couple fun needle drops.

Unfortunately, that isn’t nearly enough to save The Electric State from the many flaws that hold it back. What could have been a great film in someone else’s hands, The Russo Brothers proved that they were not the right people to adapt this story, turning it into something far less interesting and exciting than it could have been. As it stands, the film is simply a waste of time, talent, and its own budget. Let it be a learning lesson for Netflix and anyone else attempting such an endeavour again.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/