The Electric State: People call it a disaster. A flop. A $320 million dumpster fire. But I’m here to tell you it’s not. Don’t get too excited because it’s not a masterpiece either. Here’s why.
What’s It All About?
Think The Creator, but with a twist. Robots want rights. Humans say, “Nah, keep working.” War breaks out. Robots lose. But instead of total annihilation, they get exiled to a place called The Electric State.
Enter Michelle, a teenage girl on a mission to reach this robot haven. She’s got an unusual travel buddy, a robot carrying the consciousness of her brother, and a smuggler named Keats tagging along for the ride.
Why It’s Actually Good
First and foremost. The CGI is gorgeous. Smooth, polished, and dripping with quality. The robot designs are adorable. Forget Star Wars droids because these bots might just be the cutest metal beings in cinema.
Then there’s the ‘90s aesthetic, and oh man, I love it. Hollywood has a weird obsession with sleek, holographic sci-fi where everyone wears trench coats and stares at transparent computer screens. But here? A perfect retro-futurism. We get chunky CPUs, clicky keyboards, and ridiculous ‘90s fashion clashing with advanced AI. It feels unique, like a future that could’ve actually happened.
The humor doesn’t always land, but it got a few chuckles out of me. And for those saying this is just a soulless cash grab—I don’t see it. This isn’t some overmilked franchise like Marvel or Star Wars. It’s based on a fairly niche illustrated novel by Simon Stålenhag, not some billion-dollar IP. Plus, at its heart, this is a story about a sister’s love and sacrifice for her brother. That’s not exactly the hallmark of a corporate cash grab.
Why It’s Actually Bad
That said, I get why people don’t love it. The pacing drags. The plot is nothing groundbreaking. The humor? Hit or miss. Mostly miss.
But the biggest issue? It’s just not a good adaptation.
Remember when I said the robots are cute? Yeah, they’re not supposed to be. The book’s entire vibe is eerie, unsettling, and borderline horror. The movie strips that away and replaces it with something more digestible. If anything, The Electric State should have been a horror movie, but instead, we got something safe and familiar.
Final Verdict
A solid 5.5 out of 10. Not great, not terrible. Just something to throw on while eating dinner.
But here’s the real question. This movie came from the Russo Brothers, the same guys who gave us The Winter Soldier, Infinity War, and Endgame. Since Endgame, though? Their track record isn’t looking too hot. Cherry flopped. The Gray Man was forgettable. And now, The Electric State isn’t winning anyone over either.
With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, should we be worried? Maybe just a little.
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Ejon Zayn