I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The acting in this movie is really good.

THE ADVENTURES OF ELECTRONIK is a Russian TV miniseries made in 1979 about a synthetic boy who thinks he's a human. In fact he's a robot, made as a prototype model who just so happens to escape and hook up with the identical kid who he was modelled on. Soon the boys swap places at school and the teachers become amazed by their student's transformation into a model student.I guess if you're Russian and you watch this, the themes and ideas will be less alien than this appears to Western viewers. A Western-themed TV series would focus on the special effects and comedy inherent in the premise whereas this miniseries instead explores psychological effects and the morality of the situation. It's a well-shot production that shows off everyday life in Russia at the time, but I also found it oddly unengaging and with a three-hour plus running time it feels padded out in places and more than a little repetitive.

One of the most influential movies of its day! I grew up with it even though it was released when I was less than one year old. I often think that this is EXACTLY how children's science fiction movies should be made: with as few special effects as possible. Somehow, when I see a poster for yet another science fiction blockbuster these days, I know it will bore the hell out of me. That the plot will be overshadowed by the hysterically loud and disorientating computer graphics and special effects. In total disagreement with one of the previous commenters saying that "there weren't all that many movies made for kids available, and most of those weren't all that good"...This kind of comment demonstrates once again, very clearly, how the western audiences had no clue about what life was like in the Soviet Union. There were LOTS of high quality children's movies made in those days! Many of them became classics, just like "The Adventures of the Elektronic". I'd certainly watch this and other movies with my own kids.

I grew up watching this movie. It was on TV every summer when there was no school. I must have seen it at least a dozen times, so the following review is riddled with SPOILERS. Here's the story. Professor Gromov builds a robot named Electronic (El) who looks like a kid (Sergey) whose photo was in the paper. Not too excited about life in the lab among books, El rebels against the professor and escapes to explore the real world. He soon runs into his human double. The two become friends. Except the bratty kid decides to use his new cyber friend to his advantage. Like doing his homework and house chores or having the robot stand in for him in PE. Skipping school and having your double fill in for you? Every kid's dream, right? Where can I get me one of those robots? :) Soon the teachers and Sergey's family notice that something isn't right. El realizes that he's being exploited for his abilities and he'll never be accepted as one of the humans, which is his life-long dream. This part is a little reminiscent of Pinoccio. Sergey decides it's time for him to live his own life. That's when the bad guys kidnap El to use him to break into an art museum and steal expensive works of art. They trick him into thinking he's doing something good for the humanity. Luckily the school kids come to the rescue. The bad guys are defeated, El finds friends and his place in the world, and the professor is happy and doesn't try to drag him back to the lab. Happy end of the school year and the film. Good story, decent acting, and lots of catchy tunes that you'll find yourself humming days after. Pure childhood fun.

This movie probably had more influence on the kids in the entire former Soviet Union than any other. Since there weren't all that many movies made for kids available, and most of those weren't all that good, this gem shined all the more. I love this movie, and I wish I could get it somewhere. The plot is not original, but then again, it was made in 1979. The actors sparkle, and the movie is really interesting. I highly recommend it.