Reviews

• “The Russos make the most of their enormous budget, with a boatload of impressive visual effects, faithful recreations of Stålenhag’s epic vistas, and some nicely analogue art direction.”

• “The Stranger Things star, Chris Pratt and the Russo Brothers have made a Spielbergian treat. /…/ Viewed at home it’s still a treat: cleanly built studio entertainment in the cod-Spielbergian mode, with thrillingly staged action and just enough quirks and knobbles to grip. But it’s so beautifully designed, with plaintive retro-futuristic visual effects that integrate seamlessly with both its flesh-and-blood performers and the larger world, that I defy you to watch more than five minutes without wishing that your flatscreen was the size of a house. In fact, in line with its period setting, almost every aspect of The Electric State is obdurately 1990s-coded, to the extent that Alan Silvestri’s score actually culminates with a version of Oasis’s Wonderwall arranged for concert harp and grand piano. With every set piece and flourish, the Russos seem determined to make you think to yourself “they don’t make ‘em like this any more”(…) what fun it is to watch a film this expensive and not be able to quite work out where it’s going – or even if it might just stay put for a bit, and soak up the dustily poetic death-of-the-American century vibe. ”

• “The Electric State is good. (…) [It’s] entertaining, stylish, and lavish. /…/ The 90s had little to nothing to do with the book, but it is the focus here, and in more ways than one, I think it works… and really well too. /…/ I had fun, from start to finish. ”

• “(…) you can certainly take away one thing from The Electric State, a strong message celebrating our differences and the fact that despite the technological advancements our world faces every day, nothing will ever replace human connection. ”

• “I liked the film’s great visuals, solid VFX, the world building and loved how it captured the dystopian atmosphere while remaining family friendly. I also absolutely adored the star cast, especially the incredible voice actors and the underlying message of inclusivity in today’s world that is highly polarised. ”

• “One of the best parts of this movie is the asthetic. The retro 1990s vibe resonated with me immediately, drawing me in and keeping me entertained. /…/ The robots are mostly mascots and cartoons, each one looking cooler than the last. The use of so much CGI to bring them to life could have easily been the film’s downfall, but instead, it takes it to the next level. There are quite a few action sequences and each time the CG is seamless and believable. These robots add a bit of fun and whimsy to a story that is otherwise pretty dark at its core. Every voice actor – from Alan Tudyk to Jenny Slate – understands their assignment. They are some of the most lovable characters in the movie, which is in part due to the right actors being assigned to the right robots. /…/ The Electric State, while extremely dark at times, is also cute. The sibling connection adds a lot of emotional elements to the film and the robots bring the fun. Themes of segregation and basic equal rights are woven throughout but not shoved down your throat, which makes it all work really well together. Millie Bobby Brown proves herself once again as a powerful lead, demanding attention and commanding every scene she is in. ”