Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-Review by Professor Popinjay

(2025)

I don’t understand why The Electric State is getting so much hate. It’s friggin’ amazing.

Some have complained that it borrows too much from other, more interesting films. I don’t know. Maybe those critics saw movies that I haven’t and that’s what they’re basing their criticism on. I’ll admit there seemed like there were some cues taken from Ready Player One but it’s a different plot, different scenario, and a different message entirely.

It was a little distracting to have Mr. Peanut as such a prominent character. I think I would have preferred some generic robotic mascot because all I could think about was “clearly this movie was funded by Planters”. And yet, it was humorous to see the dapper legume defending the sentient robot cause. Perhaps this prospect might not have been as interesting without him. I guess there’s merits on both sides of the argument.

This film was directly inspired by the art of Simon Stålenhag, of whom I am a huge fan. His imagery is obviously present throughout the duration of the film. If you’ve not seen his portfolio beyond The Electric State, please do. It’s mind blowing.

The acting is passable. It’s nothing to write home about but it’s not distracting either. Chris Pratt is his usual self. Stanley Tucci is fascinating as always. Giocarlo Esposito is scary as hell. Millie Bobby Brown is good at being a girl in an alternate version of the 1980’s but that credit might go wholly to her hair and makeup artists.

I love robot stories and this is one of them. I find the Frankenstein dilemma so fascinating. We have this inherent desire to create life and yet fear the responsibility of loving that life, we fear the rejection should that life turn against us. It’s a lot for a human to handle. It’s a hypocritical fear as well, as we present our own creator with this same dilemma.

Incidentally we don’t need to create artificial life from whom we may withhold compassion. It’s easy to regard a robot as non-human but we dehumanize humans all the time. It makes us feel better about ourselves and our actions to vilify other humans when truly they are not our enemy. The enemy is fear and ignorance and lack of compassion. The enemy is hatred. These are the themes of The Electric State.

 No one is asking anyone to make love to their toaster. We need to learn to extend love to other humans, even the stupid ones. Then you can do whatever you want to your toaster.