Netflix's highly anticipated film, 'The Electric State', has been met with widespread disappointment and criticism, with many calling it a soulless and uninspired adaptation of Simon Stålenhag's acclaimed illustrated novel. The film, codirected by Joe and Anthony Russo, boasts a star-studded cast, including Millie Bobby Brown, Jason Alexander, and Chris Pratt, but fails to deliver on its promise of an engaging and imaginative storyline.

With a reported budget of $300 million, it's astonishing that the film's leaden performances and meandering narrative make it feel like a low-budget, AI-generated production. The story, set in an alternate history where Walt Disney's invention of simple automatons leads to a devastating war, follows Michelle, a rebellious teen orphan desperate to escape her abusive home. Despite its intriguing premise, the film's execution falls flat, with underdeveloped characters and a lack of worldbuilding that fails to immerse the viewer.

The film's visuals, while drawing inspiration from Stålenhag's illustrations, are often marred by poor CGI and a reliance on nostalgic vibes and product placement. The cast, which includes Woody Norman, Stanley Tucci, and Giancarlo Esposito, is wasted in underwritten roles, with even the usually reliable Chris Pratt struggling to make an impact. The film's tone is also wildly inconsistent, veering wildly from attempted humor to tired action sequences that fail to deliver.

One of the most glaring issues with 'The Electric State' is its lack of focus. The film attempts to tackle a range of themes, from the dangers of technology to the importance of human connection, but fails to explore any of them in depth. Instead, it settles for shallow nods to cultural references and a series of unengaging set pieces. The result is a film that feels like a wasted opportunity, particularly given the rich source material it's based on.

Ultimately, 'The Electric State' is a cautionary tale about the dangers of assuming that big names and a large budget are enough to guarantee success. The film's failure is a reminder that storytelling, character development, and worldbuilding are essential to creating a compelling and engaging cinematic experience. As it stands, 'The Electric State' is a misfire that fails to live up to its potential, and viewers would be better off sticking to the original novel.

'The Electric State' is now streaming on Netflix, but it's hard to recommend it to anyone but the most die-hard fans of the Russo brothers or the source material. Even then, it's a struggle to find anything redeeming about this lackluster adaptation.