In Hollywood, actors can be upset over missed opportunities, but sometimes, they can be blessings in disguise. For example, stepping away from The Electric State might be one of the smartest moves that Michelle Yeoh has made in her career.
The Russo Brothers’ directorial, which seemed to be highly anticipated at first, has landed with a thud. The reviews and ratings of the film are struggling, so it’s clear that Yeoh’s exit was nothing short of a career-saving decision.
The Electric State’s downfall: A missed opportunity
The Electric State is based on Simon Stålenhag’s hauntingly beautiful graphic novel, which could have the potential of being turned into a cinematic masterpiece. The gruesomeness, the dystopian world, and deep reflections, the source material had nearly everything that was needed for it to be a clean hit.
It also explored dark themes of addiction and war and featured eerie consequences of technological advancements. However, in the movie, it’s evident that they’ve stripped it off of the book’s depth, and what’s left is generic, kid-friendly tropes.
Moreover, fans are deeply disappointed with the way this adaptation has failed, as it wasn’t able to translate the book’s mature tone at all, and everything felt generic. Scenes that could have been poignant with haunting imagery were instead reduced to shallow action sequences that did not capture the story’s essence.
A cast and crew misfire: Why The Electric State fails to impress
As per the Trivia section on IMDB, Michelle Yeoh was reportedly a part of the original cast. But she had to let go of the opportunity due to scheduling conflicts. So they reworked the role of the doctor and cast Ke Huy Quan, her co-star from Everything Everywhere All at Once.
But these scheduling conflicts are the least of their problems because their current cast, with Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt in the lead, have been criticized for lackluster performances. Brown, who we all know from Stranger Things, seems to have delivered a one-note portrayal of the protagonist.
On the other hand, this isn’t the first time that Pratt has been wrecked by reviewers for his uninspired acting. The Russo Brothers were once hailed as visionary, who directed movies like Avengers: Endgame, but this time around, their filmmaking skills are also under fire. So, despite many stars and professionals being involved in this project, the only one who walked away as a winner was Michelle Yeoh.
You can watch The Electric State on Netflix.
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