Amazon.com video review:
John Badham's family-oriented adventure comedy, though obviously hatched
in the wake of E.T. and Star Wars, manages to create its own
identity through a sweet tone and an affectionate sense of fun. Military
robot Number 5, a well-armed killing machine, is zapped by lightning during
a test and emerges with a consciousness, curiosity, a wacky sense of
humor, and a new peace-loving philosophy. Ally Sheedy (who debuted in
Badham's hit WarGames) is the animal lover whose home is sanctuary
for a zoo-full of strays and who adopts the adolescent robot. Steve
Guttenberg is the goofy but reclusive robotics designer who goes off in
search of his creation to save him from the gun-happy army. The mix of
gentle slapstick and innocent romance makes for a harmless family comedy.
It veers toward the terminally cute, what with 5's hyperactive antics and
E.T.-ish voice, and the mangled grammar of Guttenberg's East Indian
sidekick (Fisher Stevens) threatens to become offensive, but Badham's
breezy direction keeps the film on track. Sheedy and Guttenberg deliver
spirited and engaging performances, but most importantly the robot emerges
as a real person. Give credit to designer Syd Mead, an army of puppeteers
and robotics operators, and the cartoony voice of Tim Blaney: Number 5 is
alive. --Sean Axmaker
