The Electric State Movie Review: Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown between the 90s and sentient robots
The star of Stranger Things and Marvel's Star-Lord is at the service of the Russo Brothers for the new Netflix Original, which offers retro-flavored science fiction capable of speaking about our present. In the catalog from March 14. We've said it many times, but it's worth repeating: the best science fiction is that which, starting from a future world (or, as in this case, an alternative one), manages to speak about the society surrounding us.
The Electric State does so in an original way and without giving up on entertaining, making use of the charisma of its protagonists, Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, and a cast of highly respected robotic supporting actors, at the service of the Russo Brothers to transpose the original book by Simon Stålenhag to the screen and take us to a world that has suffered the price of the conflict between man and machines.
A film that is also a cross-media operation, since the story will be completed by a prequel entitled The Electric State: Kid Cosmo available on iOS and Android exclusively for Netflix subscribers from March 18, a few days after the release of the film on the platform scheduled for the 14th.
The Electric State: The exile of the machines
The story of The Electric State is set in the 90s, an alternative version of that period in which man has already invented sentient robots that had integrated into society by carrying out various tasks of public utility, and different services to support human beings in daily activities. An integration that failed when the machines rebelled, demanding rights that they thought they deserved, arriving at a conflict resolved with their defeat.
Now the machines live in a sort of reserve, in a Forbidden Zone protected by walls that becomes the destination of the film's protagonist, Michelle. The reason is simple: the girl, is a teenage orphan whose life is turned upside down when she receives a visit from a funny robot named Cosmo who seems to be controlled by Christopher, the younger brother she thought was dead.
A journey that Michelle does not take alone, because during her research mission, she comes across Keats, a small-time smuggler who trades in various types of goods and is accompanied by a robot assistant named Herman. Michelle and Keats become an unlikely duo who come to discover much more than the mystery surrounding Christopher's disappearance and the reality of the world in which they find themselves living.
The '90s, as we have never seen them
As we were saying, the setting of The Electric State is sui generis because it draws on our past and its visual suggestions, but it offers an alternative version, enriched with one element in particular: robots. We are in the 90s and the decade of reference is perfectly recognizable with all its characteristics and references to popular culture, from music to the gadgets used, but the Russos propose a parallel version in which sentient robots have been invented and are widespread, even if now ghettoized after the clash with humans.
A background that works for how the robotic imagery is integrated into what we know of those years and that is fun for the ingenious idea that justifies its creation (which we prefer not to anticipate so as not to ruin the surprise). Apart from the detail relating to the existence of robots, the context of the 90s is the one we know well in terms of habits, references and quotes: the music is the right one, the pop imagery too, and the narrative development exploits its characteristics making it part of the story, supporting and embracing the retro science fiction aesthetic that characterizes the film.
An animatronic as a friend
It should be emphasized that the robots are definitely an added value, an aspect that makes The Electric State the film it is, making it stand out among the many titles that arrive on Netflix with continuity: apart from the intuition we mentioned to justify its existence, the taste and fun that the authors put into their creation is evident.
The animatronics present in the Russo brothers' film are many, all different, and with looks and designs appropriate for the purpose for which they were created in the parallel world in which the story takes place. The first is obviously Cosmo, fundamental also for narrative reasons as well as for look, but Herman, the other robot that accompanies the protagonists for a good part of the story, is equally adorable and successful, and in the original boasts the voice of Anthony Mackie. A special mention deserves, however, for Penny Pal, the postman robot voiced by Jenny Slate, who stands out among the many picturesque inhabitants of the Forbidden Zone.