Short Circuit (1986)

• Year: 1986
• Released: 09 May 1986
• Country: United States
• Adwords: 1 win & 3 nominations
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091949/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Short_Circuit
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/short-circuit
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: PG
• Genre: Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi
• Runtime: 98 min
• Writer: S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock, Jay Tarses
• Director: John Badham
• Cast: Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens
• Keywords: robot, military, artificial intelligence, oregon, usa, lightning,

	6.6/10
	50/100
	86% – Audience

Short Circuit Storyline

Number 5, one of a group of experimental military robots, undergoes a sudden transformation after being struck by lightning. He develops self-awareness, consciousness, and a fear of the reprogramming that awaits him back at the factory. With the help of a young woman, Number 5 tries to evade capture and convince his creator that he has truly become alive.

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Short Circuit Movie Reviews

“Life not malfunction.”

A robot made self-aware after being struck by lightning runs away from the military weapons testing facility where it is set to be disassembled. The robot, called Number 5, meets a woman (Ally Sheedy), who befriends it and tries to help it. As the military hunt for the escaped robot, two scientists (Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens) try to find it first.

A heartfelt sci-fi comedy that’s funny, positive, and extremely entertaining. How cool was that robot? Old school effects are remarkable. People built these things by hand, you know? There’s just something so much more effective and impressive about that than CGI effects. The cast is really good. Sheedy and Guttenberg are both likable leads. Fisher Steven is a lot of fun. Guttenberg’s Police Academy co-star G.W. Bailey plays to type as he did so often in the ’80s. Such a fun movie. I had a big goofy grin on my face the whole time I was watching this.

I recently read a review of this movie that trashed it. The reviewer’s main reasons for doing so were based on how unrealistic it was. He went on and on about how robots aren’t capable of this and that. It made me very sad for him because I know he must not have any friends. If you are reading this and you view Short Circuit the same way that reviewer does, please do yourself a favor — go out, meet some people, have some adventures, enjoy life. Then come back and watch Short Circuit and see if the stick up your ass is gone yet.

Beloved children’s classic still holds up today

SHORT CIRCUIT was a childhood favourite of mine back in the 1980s and I’m pleased to see that it still holds up for modern viewers. This is the kind of well-plotted, action-packed family fare that gets by on physical effects and well-filmed action sequences, rather than boring and tired CGI scenes. The choice of making Johnny 5 a physical model was a very good one as you never question the believability for a second. Plus he’s one of the most lovable robots ever put on screen, so there’s that.

Otherwise, the story is fairly typical for an ’80s film. There’s the ‘outsider’ heroine, played by Ally Sheedy, who goes on the run from the usual military-type bad guys who take ruthlessness to the extreme. G. W. Bailey plays EXACTLY the same role as his one in POLICE ACADEMY, and Steven Guttenberg is very similar to his part in that film too. Fisher Stevens gives the most memorable and funniest performance as the Indian guy; those who champion political correctness might question the use of ‘brown face’ but it’s hard to dislike his constant malapropisms and his sheer good-naturedness.

Otherwise, SHORT CIRCUIT proves to be a rollicking good time for all the family. There are fun references to classic movies, lots of cute animals, chase scenes, explosions, and a wonderful, western-style showdown. No crude or lowbrow humour in sight, but some nice throwaway jokes for adult viewers. Plus there’s that ending, which will have any kid crying. The one reason this works though is that Johnny 5 is an extremely endearing protagonist, and would return in the even better sequel, SHORT CIRCUIT 2.

fun charming cute

In Oregon, Number 5 is one of the experimental military robots build by NOVA Robotics. When it gets hit by lightning, its memory gets erased and becomes self-aware. Newton Crosby (Steve Guttenberg) and his assistant Ben Jabituya (Fisher Stevens) are its creator. It gets accidentally thrown out with the trash and gung-ho security captain Skroeder (G. W. Bailey) is sent to retrieve it. It lands on animal lover Stephanie Speck (Ally Sheedy)’s food truck. At first, she thinks it’s an alien and Number 5 wants input. Eventually she contacts NOVA but it fears disassemble because “Number 5 is alive.”

Ally Sheedy is adorable and Steve Guttenberg is adorkable. Sure Ben is a racial stereotype character but Number 5 more than makes up for it by being so much fun. Number 5 is like an adorable baby who grows up with all the pop culture references. It is light charming family fun.