The Electric State
has not been getting many positive reviews since it began streaming on Netflix, but I do think there are some strengths of the film that should be acknowledged. Millie Bobby Brown has been one of Netflix’s greatest ᴀssets since she began starring in Stranger Things when she was just 12. Now, the actress returns to star in one of the most expensive movies made for the platform by directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously directed huge films for the MCU, and are set to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
However, the movie also follows the pattern of the Russo’s movies outside the MCU as it has gotten overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. And yet, while the film has just 14% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it also has a very positive 75% from audiences. And when examining the film, there are plenty of things that are worthy of praise and enjoyment, despite the negative reviews.
5
The Robots All Look Great
The Electric State Spent Good Money On The Special Effects
Reportedly, The Electric State cost roughly $320 million to make. And when inspecting the cast, the ambition, and the scale of the project, it’s clear where that money went. But unlike some movies that rack up a bill of hundreds of millions of dollars, The Electric State delivers a visually stunning project.
One of the core elements of the film is the robots, who make up half of the equation in a world where robots and humans go their separate ways. In an alternate past, where these robots gained sentience and began to take issue with their monotonous and purposeless lives, they rose up, rebelled, and broke free from the captivity of humans. And the wide range of robots, from entertainers to factory workers, and random smart tech make up an incredible cast of colorful, fun characters.
4
The Electric State’s Voice Cast Is Superb
A Star-Studded Cast Brings The Robots To Life
In addition to the incredible talent and on-screen cast, which includes Chris Pratt, Millie Bobby Brown, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito and Ke Huy Quan, the voice cast who operate behind the scenes is equally stacked with incredible talent.
Woody Harrelson gives voice to the leader of the robot rebellion, Mr. Peanut, Alan Tudyk voices the friendly robot Cosmo, and they are joined by the likes of Hank Azaria, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, and many more.
3
The Electric State’s Concept Is Actually Interesting
The Story Is Interesting And Unique In Its Approach
While there has been a lot of discussion around the originality of the story, or the execution and lack of emotion, it’s hard to argue that The Electric State’s core narrative is not worthy of a film. With AI becoming a rising topic in film, the range of films made addressing the topic is rapidly increasing.
But The Electric State takes a novel approach with an alternative history setting, and a unique solution for the humans to gain an advantage. The story is dark, and the humans reveal themselves to be the genuine monsters, but it all culminates in a hopeful and bright ending that feels like a worthy payoff.
2
There Are Some Genuinely Funny Moments Throughout The Electric State
The Comedy Beats In The Electric State Are Fun And Worthwhile
In addition to being a worthwhile story, the film also enjoys some great comedy beats. Chris Pratt originally rose to prominence in comedy shows like Parks and Recreation, and his talents come in useful here. In addition, some of the robots, like Cosmo, are wonderful characters who deliver comedic moments.
For an AI movie to be successful, it has to take a unique approach.
The result is a fun, creative outing with a colorful cast of characters that delivers solid comedy beats. Yes, it wasn’t the most cohesive narrative, and the emotions sometimes felt stale. Personally, I struggled with Millie Bobby Brown’s American accent, which I was confused about, because she pulls it off in Stranger Things. But if you can put all of that to one side, it is entertaining.
1
It Wasn’t The Same Boring AI Robot Story
In A Saturated AI Market, The Electric State Cut Through The Noise
I mentioned it briefly above, but I need to double down on the fact that this is an AI story that stands out. Megan has an evil robot, Subservience has an evil robot. The same story has been playing out for a while now, and while some movies have done a great job with this plot, others get stale. For an AI movie to be successful, it has to take a unique approach, like The Creator, where robots are given empathy and compᴀssion.
This movie follows a similar vein with robots being given empathy, but it also takes the story to an alternate past that makes things familiar and nostalgic, while also dropping in a whole new element. Recently, the best AI stories in film have been the ones that don’t need to mention its about AI, and just focus on the emotions that it can elicit. And for all its flaws, The Electric State delivered an intriguing and fresh take on the scary AI narrative.
