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STARS...
Fisher Stevens,
Michael McKean, Cynthia Gibb,
Jack Weston, and David Hemblen.
PLOT SUMMARY...
A plan to manufacture and market #5 robot toys runs into interference
from bad guys.
QUICK SCAN...
This film brings to mind "Short Circuit". Number Five
is once again a fun screen presence. Jack Weston, ("Dirty Dancing"),
offers amusing support as a crooked banker.This film is a weak follow
up to the original "Short Circuit." The Director, Kenneth
Johnson, seems to have made this movie on automatic pilot. Number
Five's antics provide the film with its highlights.
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DIRECTOR: Kenneth Johnson
YEAR & RATING: 1988 (PG)
BEST BETS:
Android
Short Circuit
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SYNOPSIS...
An Indian scientist and a street hustler decide to go into business
together. Soon, the scientist meets a woman from a department store
who wants to distribute the Number Five toy robots he's manufacturing.
Thieves break into the toy factory and take it over. Number Five goes
on a "joy ride" around town.
A crooked banker, in league with the thieves, uses Number Five to break
into his bank and steal valuable jewels. Number Five helps catch the
crooks. The street hustler, Indian scientist, and department store lady
go into business together, making Number Five toy robots. |
Review:
Kenneth Johnson's, SHORT CIRCUIT 2, is a lackluster follow-up to the
zesty original "Short Circuit".
Fisher Stevens (My Science Project) returns in his role of the Indian
inventor. He's just as offensive a racial stereotype as he was in
the original film. Unfortunately, his lines aren't as funny this time
around.
Michael McKean (D.A.R.Y.L.) is okay as a con man who opens up a toy
business with Stevens. He's no substitute for Steve Guttenberg's boyish,
open faced charm.
Veteran character actor, Jack Weston (The Thomas Crown Affair) is
a welcome screen presence. He brings some amusing touches to what
could have been a cliche portrait of a crooked banker.
Mobile robot Number Five is as much as usual. It's too bad his mechanical
charm could not have been put to use in a stronger script.
My favorite scene takes place at the start. A small, mobile toy version
of Number Five enters a department store and has a mini-adventure.
Too bad the whole film isn't as much fun as this sequence.
Director of Photography, John McPherson, delivers bright, polished
visuals. The look of the film is bright, even if the screenplay isn't.
The Screenplay for SHORT CIRCUIT 2, by S.S. Wilson & Brent Maddock,
the team that wrote the original, more clever "Short Circuit".
Their imaginations seem to have short circuited this time out.
The Music, by Charles Fox, is upbeat and energized.
SHORT CIRCUIT 2 may be slightly watchable for some Sci-Fi viewers.
If you don't dig robots, or are a sensitive East Indian, ignore this
unsatisfactory effort. SHORT CIRCUIT 2 is short on fun!
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