'The Electric State' starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.
Image: Netflix
For sci-fi movie buffs, "The Electric State", starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, might just be the one for you – even if it is two hours long. Personally, a movie this long has to slap, especially if you’re demanding attention like that.
And while it may not be a flawless masterpiece, it delivers an engaging emotional and visually stunning journey.
Set in an alternate 1990s, "The Electric State" follows Michelle (Brown), a teenage girl searching for her missing brother in a world that has crumbled under the weight of a failed technological revolution.
The once-thriving society has been reduced to eerie landscapes filled with abandoned robots, remnants of a war that left humanity fractured.
Alongside her trusted yellow robot companion and a mysterious drifter named Keats (Pratt), Michelle goes on a road trip across this desolate world, uncovering secrets about her brother’s disappearance and the sinister forces at play.
'The Electric State' follows Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), a teenage girl searching for her missing brother in a world that has crumbled under the weight of a failed technological revolution.
Image: X/@LuminousDagger
Brown, best known for her breakout role as Eleven in "Stranger Things" and as the sharp-witted detective in "Enola Holmes", once again proves she can carry a film.
She brings a mix of vulnerability and strength that makes her character compelling to watch.
She shares some truly touching moments with her robot companion, which made me cry.
Pratt, an actor who’s practically a household name thanks to "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Jurassic World", usually leans on his trademark charm, but he takes a slightly more subdued approach here.
It works in parts, though the chemistry between him and Brown could have been stronger. That said, the film makes up for it with some witty banter and comedic moments.
With a million-dollar budget, "The Electric State" is Netflix’s most expensive production to date. Visually, it shows.
The film paints a striking picture of an alternate 1990s, filled with abandoned robots and desolate landscapes. The CGI is top-notch, and the designs of the mechanical creatures are impressive.
The once-thriving society has been reduced to eerie landscapes filled with abandoned robots, remnants of a war that left humanity fractured.
Image: X/@samosasaurus
Sure, it isn’t exactly like the graphic novel, but it was never meant to be.
While it borrows elements from sci-fi classics - think "Blade Runner’s" bleak futurism, "Mad Max" and its post-apocalyptic road trip, and "Wall-E’s" human-robot companionship, it manages to carve a space in the genre.
The pacing is slow at times, and some characters could have been fleshed out more, but the sheer heart of the film makes up for its shortcomings.
The film also boasts a stellar supporting cast, including the legendary Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, and Brian Cox.
At its core, "The Electric State" is a story about resilience, family, and the consequences of unchecked technological ambition.
With AI taking over jobs, social media making people feel more disconnected than ever, and tech advancing faster than we can blink, the film hits home in unexpected ways.
It’s a reminder that, no matter how digital our lives get, human connection and hope still matter.
*** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.