Alright movie buffs Netflix just dropped a big one: The Electric State. This sci-fi adventure has a stacked cast with some seriously recognizable faces. We're talking Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things and Chris Pratt of Guardians of the Galaxy fame. But who else is in this flick and what are they all about? Plus we'll spill the tea on what critics are saying because it's... well it's a mixed bag let's just say that.
Meet the Stars of The Electric State: Brown Pratt and a Robot Sidekick!
Let's break down the main players in The Electric State:
- Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle: You know her as Eleven from Stranger Things and she is front and center here as Michelle. Michelle is an orphaned teen in this alternate 90s world who is not plugged into the virtual reality craze everyone else is obsessed with. She's on a mission to find her brother and ends up teaming up with a robot.
- Chris Pratt as Keats: Star-Lord himself Chris Pratt plays Keats. Think of Keats as a kind of smuggler who helps Michelle on her journey through the dangerous Exclusion Zone. Some reviews have even joked he's like a discount Han Solo. He also has a robot sidekick himself!
- Cosmo (Robot): Cosmo is Michelle's robot companion. This little bot thinks Michelle's brother Christopher might still be alive and knows how to find him. Cosmo is brought to life with motion-capture and CGI and is a key part of Michelle's quest.
- Herman (Robot sidekick to Keats): Voiced by Anthony Mackie (yes Falcon/Captain America himself!) Herman is Keats' robot pal. Apparently they have a funny kinda combative relationship.
- Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci): The always great Stanley Tucci plays Ethan Skate a tech guru who created the neurocaster technology that everyone is hooked on in this world.
- Colonel Marshall Bradbury (Giancarlo Esposito): Giancarlo Esposito who you know from Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian is Colonel Bradbury. He is tracking down Cosmo the robot adding to the tension of Michelle's search.
What's the Story? Dystopian 90s Robots and a Search for Family
The Electric State throws us into an alternate 1994. Imagine a world where humans went to war with the robots they created. Humans won but now everyone is basically living in a virtual world thanks to neurocaster tech created by Ethan Skate. People use robot drones to handle real life while they escape into their digital dreams. Michelle is different she is not into the VR thing.
When a robot named Cosmo shows up claiming her brother Christopher is alive Michelle embarks on a journey to find him. She enlists the help of smuggler Keats to get into the dangerous Exclusion Zone where she hopes to find Christopher and maybe uncover some dark secrets about this world along the way.
Critics Sound Off: Is The Electric State a Hit or a Miss?
Okay so the reviews are in and... ouch. Critics are not exactly loving The Electric State. Many are calling it a "waste of money" and "actively annoying". Ouch again. The general feeling is that despite the big budget and star power the movie just does not have much spark.
Some common complaints are that it feels generic like a bunch of sci-fi ideas thrown together that we have seen before. Think drone warfare virtual reality obsessed humans and robot wars. Some reviewers felt like the movie is borrowing elements from things like Ready Player One Guardians of the Galaxy and The Creator but not doing it as well.
While Millie Bobby Brown gets some credit for trying to bring emotion to her role many critics say the characters feel flat and underdeveloped. Chris Pratt's performance as Keats is also getting some shade with one review calling it a "third-rate Star-Lord". Double ouch.
It's not all bad though! Some reviewers did praise the visual effects and the look of the robots. One Empire review called it a "breezily watchable retrofuturistic jolly" saying it has "just enough juice". So maybe if you are just looking for some visual spectacle and don't mind a familiar story you might find something to enjoy.
Russo Brothers Take on Sci-Fi After Marvel Domination: Did They Lose Their Spark?
The Electric State is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo the brothers who helmed some of the biggest MCU movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. After their Marvel success they have been doing other projects including The Gray Man also for Netflix and now The Electric State.
Some critics are wondering if the Russo Brothers have lost their touch outside of the MCU. Reviews suggest that The Electric State lacks the originality and spark that made their Marvel movies so popular. One review even said "Maybe it’s just that they’ve got vague metaphors about intolerance and technological repression and mass-hypnosis to deliver and a brutal robot slaughter to depict and weak tears to jerk." That's pretty harsh.
It seems like even with a huge budget and a talented cast something is missing in The Electric State. Maybe it is the story maybe it is the characters or maybe it is just that audiences are looking for something truly fresh and new in their sci-fi these days.
The Electric State: Cast List at a Glance
- Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle
- Chris Pratt as Keats
- Stanley Tucci as Ethan Skate
- Giancarlo Esposito as Colonel Marshall Bradbury
- Anthony Mackie (voice) as Herman
- Robot Cosmo (motion-capture and CGI)
Worth a Watch or Skip? The Verdict on The Electric State
So is The Electric State worth your Netflix time? Well it's complicated. If you are a die-hard Millie Bobby Brown or Chris Pratt fan or just want some big-budget sci-fi visuals you might find something to like. But be warned critics are mostly down on this one calling it generic predictable and lacking in emotional depth.
It sounds like The Electric State might be another example of a big Netflix movie that looks impressive but ultimately does not leave a lasting impression. Maybe watch it if you are really bored but don't expect a groundbreaking sci-fi masterpiece. There are definitely more critically loved and original sci-fi movies out there to explore.