Starring Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown, the Russo brothers’ new Netflix tentpole is the kind of movie that seems to get longer while you’re watching it.
Someone on social media recently pointed out that the budget for The Electric State could have funded the last 15 Best Picture winners at the Oscars. With a staggering 320millionpricetag,thisNetflixsci−fiepicfromdirectorsJoeandAnthonyRussoisaprimeexampleofexcessivespendingwithlittletoshowforit.Forcontext,filmslike∗Oppenheimer∗(320millionpricetag,thisNetflixsci−fiepicfromdirectorsJoeandAnthonyRussoisaprimeexampleofexcessivespendingwithlittletoshowforit.Forcontext,filmslike∗Oppenheimer∗(100 million), Parasite, 12 Years a Slave, and Anora could have been made with the leftover funds.
Starring Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown, The Electric State is a tedious, overlong, and lifeless film that feels like an eternity despite its 120-minute runtime. The Russo brothers, once celebrated for their work on Avengers: Endgame, have hit a new low with this uninspired mess. Even their previous Netflix offering, The Gray Man, pales in comparison to the sheer dullness of this film.
The Russo Brothers’ Downward Spiral
Since the global success of Avengers: Endgame, the Russo brothers have struggled to recapture their magic. Their post-pandemic projects, including the Prime Video series Citadel and The Gray Man, have been criticized for their lack of originality and over-reliance on CGI. The Electric State is no exception.
The film is a hodgepodge of poorly rendered visuals, half-baked lore, and a muddled narrative. It’s clear that the Russos are more focused on building franchises than creating meaningful, engaging stories. Their recent work feels algorithmically designed, lacking the heart and creativity that once defined their films.
Plot Overview: A Confusing and Uninspired Journey
Set in an alternate mid-90s, The Electric State follows Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), a young woman on a mission to find her long-lost brother, Christopher. In this dystopian world, retro-futuristic robots, once designed to serve humanity, have rebelled and been exiled to a cordoned-off area of America. Christopher, a genius with the ability to mentally bond with machines, was kidnapped during the war.
Michelle’s journey begins when she encounters a small, Dobby-like droid named Cosmo, who appears to be possessed by Christopher’s consciousness. Determined to reunite with her brother, Michelle embarks on a cross-country adventure into the exclusion zone. Along the way, she teams up with Keats (Chris Pratt), a military veteran turned smuggler, and his robot companion, Herm (voiced by Anthony Mackie).
Performances: A Waste of Talent
- Millie Bobby Brown tries her best to bring depth to Michelle, but the character is underwritten and lacks emotional resonance.
- Chris Pratt sleepwalks through his role as Keats, essentially reprising his Han Solo-esque persona from Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy.
- Anthony Mackie is reduced to voicing a robotic sidekick, a far cry from his role as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Colman Domingo, a two-time Academy Award nominee, is wasted in a one-scene cameo as a security bot. Read More
Visuals and Sound: A Missed Opportunity
The film’s retro-futuristic aesthetic is visually unappealing, with poorly executed CGI and a muddy color palette. The action sequences, particularly the climax, feel like rehashed versions of Avengers: Endgame’s battle scenes.
Alan Silvestri, who composed the iconic score for Avengers: Endgame, recycles some of his previous themes, further highlighting the lack of originality in The Electric State.
Themes: Tired and Unoriginal
The Electric State attempts to explore profound themes like sentient robots, post-9/11 paranoia, class inequality, and artificial intelligence. However, these ideas are presented in a shallow and clichéd manner, offering nothing new to the conversation.
Key Features of The Electric State
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Joe and Anthony Russo |
| Cast | Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Anthony Mackie, Colman Domingo |
| Runtime | 120 minutes |
| Budget | $320 million |
| Genre | Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure |
| Release Platform | Netflix |
| Visual Style | Retro-futuristic, poorly rendered CGI |
| Music | Alan Silvestri (recycled themes from Avengers: Endgame) |
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Millie Bobby Brown’s committed performance | Over-reliance on CGI |
| Ambitious world-building concept | Poorly executed visuals |
| Uninspired and clichéd storytelling | |
| Wasted talent (Pratt, Mackie, Domingo) | |
| Feels longer than its runtime |
Final Verdict
The Electric State is a disappointing addition to the Russo brothers’ filmography. Despite its astronomical budget and star-studded cast, the film fails to deliver on every front. It’s a lifeless, uninspired mess that erodes the magic of cinema one frame at a time. If this is the future of big-budget filmmaking, we’re in trouble.
Rating: 2/10
Should You Watch It?
Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the Russo brothers or Millie Bobby Brown, The Electric State is best avoided. Save your time and revisit Avengers: Endgame instead.
