Short Circuit 2 (1988)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Kenneth Johnson

Writers:

Brent Maddock (writer)
S.S. Wilson (writer)

Release Date:

6 July 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Some say he's nuts. Some say he's bolts. But can Number Five make it in the big, bad city? Keep your wires crossed.

Plot:

Robot Johnny Five comes to the city and gets manipulated by criminals who want him for their own purposes.

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Street Vendor | Street Gang | Reverse Footage | Model Airplane

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Tim Blaney	...	Johnny Five (voice)
Fisher Stevens	...	Ben Jahrvi
Michael McKean	...	Fred Ritter
Cynthia Gibb	...	Sandy Banatoni
Jack Weston	...	Oscar Baldwin
Dee McCafferty	...	Saunders
David Hemblen	...	Jones
Don Lake	...	Manic Mike
Damon D'Oliveira	...	Bones
Tito Núñez	...	Zorro (as Tito Nuñez)
Jason Kuriloff	...	Lil Man
Robert LaSardo	...	Spooky
Lili Francks	...	Officer Mendez
Wayne Best	...	Officer O'Malley
Gerard Parkes	...	Priest (as Gerry Parkes)

Also Known As:

Short Circuit 2: More Input (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Eaton Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

David Foster Productions

Trivia:

The location of the city of the film, while never spoken, is hinted as being New York City through statements of the characters. Furthermore, as Sandy is using Ben's impromptu musical cues to locate him, the song "On Broadway" is played, a familiar street of the Big Apple.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Johnny 5 is attacked, it is obviously summer as the leaves on the trees are in full bloom. In the scenes following Johnny's repair at the Radio Shack it appears to be late fall with no leaves on the trees even though a period of only a few hours has elapsed in the film.

Quotes:

Jones: Okay, Jerk-off. You're gonna get recycled.
Johnny Five: [imitating a Jewish man] Oh, yeah? Well, recycle this, you meshuggana schmuck!
[Brooklyn accent]
Johnny Five: Get outta my face, you ugly motha!
[Spanish accent]
Johnny Five: Tu mama hace el amor con mi perro!
[imitating Sylvester Stallone]
Johnny Five: Yo, come on, you bug-eyed geek.
[imitating Clint Eastwood]
Johnny Five: Do you feel lucky, punk?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#1.3)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Bo Diddley

Best Movie Ever Made?

Short circuit 2 not only has 2 of my favourite actors, Fisher Stevens (whom you may remember from the unconventional yet brilliant "Super Mario Bros.") and Michael McKean (The man who needs a mere two-word introduction: Quality Footware). As a team they are tremendous, and combined with the directorial power that Kenneth Johnson wields, together with the charismatic Johnny 5, Tim Blaney, this movie is unstoppable. On a technical level this movie is definitive and as simple as the plot idea may be it is charming and powerful. This is a modern-day masterpiece, and a unique twist on the classic Frankenstein theme. If I could I would give this movie more than ten. FIVE more than ten!