Short Circuit **** (1986, Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton, G W Bailey, Brian McNamara) – Classic Movie Review 4580

Director John Badham’s family-friendly 1986 teen movie stars Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg as the pet-loving Stephanie Speck and the brilliant young scientific boffin Newton Crosby.

The duo set out to rescue ‘Number Five’, a cute $11 million robot that develops a mind of its own and goes AWOL when it is short-circuited and energised by a lightning flash. But the US Army is also after ‘Number Five’, which was built to kill.

Badham’s feature is a well handled, thoroughly enjoyable, light-hearted comedy sci-fi fantasy film that will please the Disney-ET audience.

Director Badham keeps it fast and funny. Fisher Stevens is a downside as Ben Jabituya. Tim Blaney provides the voice of ‘Number Five’.

Also in the cast are Austin Pendleton, G W Bailey, Brian McNamara, Marvin J McIntyre, John Garber, Penny Stanton, Vernon Weddle and Barbara Tarbuck.

A sequel, Short Circuit 2, followed in 1988.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4580

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