"The Electric State" fails to reach its full power.

With two fake deaths and an interesting (yet simultaneously uninteresting) progression of events, Netflix's The Electric State is one you will not be torn over. I understand this is an adaptation based on the 2018 novel by Simon Stålenhag, and there are people who will always take a side on the book versus movie or series debate, but I don't think this movie was what they hoped for it to be. A spoiler warning is in effect! Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown) embarks on a quest to find the last surviving member of her family with the goal of freeing her brother from a mega-corporation's grip. She is assisted by his subconscious residing in a robot, along with Keats (Chris Pratt) and Herman (Anthony Mackie), who join her after she catches a ride with them while they evade the police and others during their mission to save Christopher (Woody Norman) and the world from the technological war. Despite the substantial budget, the movie had a certain lack of quality. The opening scene with Christopher taking the test felt overly simplistic, particularly when he encounters a Corporal (Camrus Johnson) who questions him about his shirt and his pro-robot stance, which seemed out of place and poorly executed. This feeling about the actors' performances surfaced multiple times; at moments, I found the voice actors more compelling than those physically present. The scene where Herman carries them on his shoulder while Michelle and Keats converse struck me as the most authentic.

With a villain suffering from mother issues and typical wealthy selfishness, the vile power of the rich is depicted in Ethan Skate's (Stanley Tucci) exploitation of Christopher's intellect by preserving his comatose body to utilize the brain to power Skate's company, Sentre. However, I wish they highlighted his intelligence more. We were only informed that he was exceptionally bright and completed a test quickly, similar to Albert Einstein, whose brain was preserved in a conspiracy theory that also served as a foreshadowing element in the film. This portrayal felt unrealistic and hard to believe. If there had been a few scenes showcasing his abilities, it would have added to the credibility, similar to the 21 film, where his skills were revealed in both spontaneous and planned scenarios. This strategy is reminiscent of the series Suits, where Mike's photographic memory is demonstrated simply and clearly, showcasing his abilities and leaving no doubt about his talent for the viewers. It would have been much better in this movie than just being told about his intelligence repeatedly.

Michelle encountered a series of fortunate coincidences that allowed her to grasp the meaning of Cosmo's (Alan Tudyk) gestures or phrases after the repeated taps on her brother's image, and when the moment arose, Keats and Herman's truck showed up. I was relieved she managed to escape her foster father, Ted, but it was also a joy to see Jason Alexander despite his character being utterly terrible. He truly defined Seinfeld, so it was nice to see him here, and I couldn't help but feel that Ted resembles an extreme, pessimistic version of George, sharing some unfortunate traits. The drones or robotic soldiers didn't match the fight scenes in Upgrade or Code 8, particularly since they reminded me of those killers in Code 8. The two films featuring the Amell brothers were fantastic.

The film might have gained a stronger emotional pull if Chris had died, especially considering the turmoil Michelle went through and the journey it involved. I understand that she often encouraged him to change the world, which he accomplished, for better or worse, and later on, he told her to do the same. In response, she made the difficult decision to pull the plug and became the leader of the anti-digital movement. Despite the heartfelt idea that Chris returns as Cosmo, it all seemed like an unnecessary sacrifice, especially since this method was something she had mentioned before making peace with his death. Ultimately, the choice is yours to explore or ignore the depths within The Electric State.

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