For every splash of color I caught in Image Entertainment’s 1080i/AVC-encoded transfer, there were countless flaws that resulted in fluctuating palette stability and vibrancy, contrast wavering, and detail inconsistency. It pains me to say it, but I can’t imagine many newcomers, young or old, finding much to love here.įans distracted by ‘Short Circuit’s bargain-bin pricepoint will be quick to forgive the disc’s abundant visual inconsistencies, but I could barely contain my discontent. Even six months shy of his fourth birthday, he noticed my disappointment and consoled me by saying, “don’t be sad daddy, some robots just aren’t that much fun.” In the end, ‘Short Circuit’ will mainly appeal to those who already fell in love with Number-5 twenty years ago. The Nova Laboratories officials and the military personnel are portrayed as the sort of people who would capture the robot and exploit his newly developed abilities, rather than destroy a profitable mistake.Īnd my son? He was disenchanted with the antiquated look and flimsy tone of the film within the first twenty minutes, climbing off the couch to find something better to do with his time. To top it all off, the film lacks a palpable threat or convincing villain - Number-5 is constantly worried his pursuers will disassemble him, but there isn’t a strong enough case to suggest his fears are warranted. When Number-5 becomes Johnny-5, he develops a few personality quirks that, to be blunt, seem far more grating than they did when I was younger. The humor is also hit-or-miss, leaving quite a few jokes dangling without a payoff. The story itself suffers from a limited scope (especially compared to the film’s superior sequel), the special effects are shoddy (even for their time), and many scenes that don’t feature Number-5 are dull and tedious. Unfortunately, if I didn’t have a soft spot for warm, gooey nostalgia, ‘Short Circuit’ would have lost my interest before the end of the first act. More importantly, Number-5 still works as a character - his mechanical coming-of-age quest is familiar, but his interactions and reactions are imbued with enough wit and heart to keep things rolling along. Sure the film’s wardrobe, slang, and themes are as dated and predictable as one would expect from a sci-fi family flick circa 1986, but I thought Number-5’s plight has effectively evolved into a relevant cautionary tale that’s as applicable today as it was many years ago.
#REVIEWS OF ICIRCUIT SERIES#
First and foremost, the screenplay has weathered the years rather well, strengthened by a series of solid (albeit fairly one-note) performances that wholly sustain the awe and wonder of Number-5’s wide-eyed journey. More than twenty years after its inception, ’Short Circuit’ at least manages to work on a few fundamental levels.
On the run from the military, Number-5 takes on the name Johnny-5 and discovers the thrill of life, the fear of death, and the allure of freedom. Newton Crosby (Steve Guttenberg), a humanitarian who isn’t happy that his creation is being developed as a weapon. The pair eventually find an ally in the robots’ designer, Dr. Unable to communicate or grasp its budding sentience, Number-5 meets a young woman named Stephanie (Ally Sheedy) who helps the robot learn about the world, develop its personality, and appreciate its existence. When a lightning storm disrupts an advanced weapons presentation for the US military, an errant power surge alters the programming of a prototype war machine (designated Number-5) and causes the confused robot to wander off the premises. Alas, like many fond childhood memories, ‘Short Circuit’ didn’t turn out to be the timeless classic I remembered. Since my son has been unable to contain his mounting enthusiasm for Pixar’s upcoming robotic opus, ‘Wall-E,’ I thought it was a perfect time to introduce him to a cherished flick from my childhood, ‘Short Circuit.’ Of course, I tried to explain that it had been at least fifteen years since I last watched the original adventures of the film’s endearingly sentient hero Number-5, but talk of rolling robots and searing lasers had my son bounding around the room in a frenzy.
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