MovieMonday.com - Short Circuit with Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, G.W. Bailey, Brian McNamara

Techno Films

Short Circuit (A-)

STARS...
Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, G.W. Bailey, and Brian McNamara.

PLOT SUMMARY...
A highly advanced robot is zapped with electricity, and becomes "alive".

QUICK SCAN...
Ally Sheedy scores as an animal-loving young woman who hides robot Number Five from the authorities. Number Five is cute and viewer friendly. Steve Guttenberg, ("Cocoon"), is likable as a scientist on the trail of the runaway robot. Although rather similar in some ways to the megahit "E.T.", SHORT CIRCUIT is entertaining none the less.

DIRECTOR: John Badham
YEAR & RATING: 1986 (PG)

BEST BETS:

Android
Short Circuit 2
SYNOPSIS...
A research lab demonstrates it's new, high-tech robots for the military and political brass. Later, a freak electrical current zaps one of the robots, Number Five. It escapes from the lab.

Number Five ends up at the home of an animal-friendly gal. Although she originally mistakes the robot for an alien, she and it end up pals. The research lab security guys search for the missing robot. So does the robot's creator, and his buddy/associate.

Number Five is destroyed by the military. Then it turns out that a look-alike, and not the real Number Five, was destroyed. The robot, animal-loving gal, and the robot's creator, head off for a Montana ranch together.

Review:

Director John Badham's ("War Games") SHORT CIRCUIT is an amiable Sci-Fi tale, in the "E.T." tradition.

The military and congress members are present for a demonstration of new, highly mobile robots. As research lab head Austin Pendleton ("Cousin Vinny") explains it, "Well, gentlemen, I want you to meet Strategic Artificially Intelligent Nuclear Transport, or "Saint" as we call it. It is quite simply the most sophisticated robot on planet Earth."

The Screenplay for "Short Circuit" is fun, lively, and involving. It was Written by S.S. Wilson & Brent Maddock.

Later, robot Number Five gets a jolt of electricity during an electrical storm. Shortly after that, he escapes from the lab.

Steve Guttenberg ("Cocoon", "Three Men and a Baby") once again proves to be a likable screen presence. His character takes awhile to believe that Number 5 is truly alive, but, hey, it's a pretty far out concept, so he can be forgiven.

G.W. Bailey ("Police Academy"), as the head of the robot lab's security, plays essentially the same character he did in the "Police Academy" film series. If you did not enjoy him in those flicks, you may not be a happy camper during his scenes.

My favorite scene is when Number Five rewires several robots that are pursuing him. They end up acting like The Three Stooges, to humorous effect.

The S.A.I.N.T. robot series, and Number Five in particular, are very cool, ranking up there with Robby the Robot ("Forbidden Planet") and R2D2 ("Star Wars") as classic film robots. The robots were designed by Syd Mead and Engineered and Realized by Eric Allard.

The film's Music is a lively, energetic counterpoint to the on screen action. David Shire gets the credit.

The film's visual images are crisp and pretty. Director of Photography Nick McLean is the responsible party.

SHORT CIRCUIT should be fairly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Robot fans will really dig this movie.

MovieMonday.com * Super Star Index * Award Winners * CelebrityFrame.com

Short Circuit (A-)
	STARS... Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, G.W. Bailey, and Brian McNamara. PLOT SUMMARY... A highly advanced robot is zapped with electricity, and becomes "alive". QUICK SCAN... Ally Sheedy scores as an animal-loving young woman who hides robot Number Five from the authorities. Number Five is cute and viewer friendly. Steve Guttenberg, ("Cocoon"), is likable as a scientist on the trail of the runaway robot. Although rather similar in some ways to the megahit "E.T.", SHORT CIRCUIT is entertaining none the less.
DIRECTOR: John Badham YEAR & RATING: 1986 (PG) BEST BETS: Android Short Circuit 2	SYNOPSIS... A research lab demonstrates it's new, high-tech robots for the military and political brass. Later, a freak electrical current zaps one of the robots, Number Five. It escapes from the lab. Number Five ends up at the home of an animal-friendly gal. Although she originally mistakes the robot for an alien, she and it end up pals. The research lab security guys search for the missing robot. So does the robot's creator, and his buddy/associate. Number Five is destroyed by the military. Then it turns out that a look-alike, and not the real Number Five, was destroyed. The robot, animal-loving gal, and the robot's creator, head off for a Montana ranch together.
Review: Director John Badham's ("War Games") SHORT CIRCUIT is an amiable Sci-Fi tale, in the "E.T." tradition. The military and congress members are present for a demonstration of new, highly mobile robots. As research lab head Austin Pendleton ("Cousin Vinny") explains it, "Well, gentlemen, I want you to meet Strategic Artificially Intelligent Nuclear Transport, or "Saint" as we call it. It is quite simply the most sophisticated robot on planet Earth." The Screenplay for "Short Circuit" is fun, lively, and involving. It was Written by S.S. Wilson & Brent Maddock. Later, robot Number Five gets a jolt of electricity during an electrical storm. Shortly after that, he escapes from the lab. Steve Guttenberg ("Cocoon", "Three Men and a Baby") once again proves to be a likable screen presence. His character takes awhile to believe that Number 5 is truly alive, but, hey, it's a pretty far out concept, so he can be forgiven. G.W. Bailey ("Police Academy"), as the head of the robot lab's security, plays essentially the same character he did in the "Police Academy" film series. If you did not enjoy him in those flicks, you may not be a happy camper during his scenes. My favorite scene is when Number Five rewires several robots that are pursuing him. They end up acting like The Three Stooges, to humorous effect. The S.A.I.N.T. robot series, and Number Five in particular, are very cool, ranking up there with Robby the Robot ("Forbidden Planet") and R2D2 ("Star Wars") as classic film robots. The robots were designed by Syd Mead and Engineered and Realized by Eric Allard. The film's Music is a lively, energetic counterpoint to the on screen action. David Shire gets the credit. The film's visual images are crisp and pretty. Director of Photography Nick McLean is the responsible party. SHORT CIRCUIT should be fairly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Robot fans will really dig this movie.