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Title: Short Circuit (1986)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ally Sheedy | ... | Stephanie Speck | |
| Steve Guttenberg | ... | Newton Crosby | |
| Fisher Stevens | ... | Ben Jabituya | |
| Austin Pendleton | ... | Howard Marner | |
| G.W. Bailey | ... | Skroeder | |
| Brian McNamara | ... | Frank | |
| Tim Blaney | ... | Number 5 (voice) | |
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Marvin J. McIntyre | ... | Duke |
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John Garber | ... | Otis |
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Penny Santon | ... | Mrs. Cepeda |
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Vernon Weddle | ... | General Washburne |
| Barbara Tarbuck | ... | Senator Mills | |
| Tom Lawrence | ... | Howard Marner's Aide | |
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Fred Slyter | ... | Norman |
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Billy Ray Sharkey | ... | Zack |
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. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher <rocher@fiberbit.net>
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Short Circuit is an off-the-wall comedy about a series of robots made of the military. They sort of resemble Conky from the old Pee Wee's Play House series. One of the robots, 'Number Five', escapes and finds sanctuary in the home of Stephanie Speck (Allly Sheedy), a nice lady with a soft spot for runaways.
Speck becomes good friends with 'Number Five' who begins to take on a lot of human characteristics, transcending the static life of a robot or the hostile life of a military weapon, which is what the robots were designed for.
Speck learns that Number Five's owners are looking for him, but she knows that the military would only destroy Number Five or terminate the emotional drive that he has developed. Number Five's designer, Newton Crosby (Guttenberg) and his silly assistant Ben Jabituya (Stevens), have yet to appreciate what Number Five has achieved, as a shell of wires and controls able to take on human qualities, but, soon, they too will join Speck in the quest to save 'Number Five.'
Some of it is kind of reminscint of other 80s sci-fi movies like 'Batteries Not Included' and 'E.T.'
There's two issues at work in this movie. The first, and obvious one being about the development of human emotion and would it be possible for anything to gain an understanding and appreciation for it? And the second being the ethics of military useage. Plus, it's your standard 80s love and friendship story. Because of the story and the sharp wit comedy and sarcasm, it's makes for good comedy. I haven't seen the sequel in a long time, but I do remember enjoying it almost as much as the first. I think that's because 'Number Five' is such a funny, loveable robot.
If you like the theme of this movie, I recommend seeing the hilarious comedy, 'Making Mr. Right,' which is about a robot designed for space exploration rather than military use. But, the robot begins to take on human emotions while the owner becomes increasingly more like a robot. (It's from Susan Siedleman, the director of 'Desperately Seeking Susan.')