John Badham went all hi-tech with his hacker thriller WarGames. In Short Circuit the inspiration is to marry the heartwarming story of ET with robot technology and the story of Robot Number 5, an advanced robot developed for military purposes but gains some kind of artificial intelligence after being struck by lightning and being fried.Number 5 goes on the run from the defence company who want to disassemble him and he ends up befriending naive animal lover Ally Sheedy who protects him but initially thinks he is an alien from outer space.Steve Guttenberg is the creator of the robot program, unhappy about the proposed military uses of his creations. He also goes on the hunt for Number 5 and realises that his robot has developed self awareness and become alive. However the chase led by GW Bailey (Guttenberg's co- star from the Police Academy films) is mainly for comic relief.Short Circuit is a cheesy 1980s film that kids would had enjoyed back then. The robot's image was 'borrowed' by WALL-E and the robotic special effects have been well utilised in this film. Less so is the comedy Indian side kick played by a browned up white actor with a comedy accent. It was inappropriate at the time and frankly highlights the racism of the mainstream film industry that permeated in the 1980s.

A robot made self-aware after being struck by lightning runs away from the military weapons testing facility where it is set to be disassembled. The robot, called Number 5, meets a woman (Ally Sheedy), who befriends it and tries to help it. As the military hunt for the escaped robot, two scientists (Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens) try to find it first.A heartfelt sci-fi comedy that's funny, positive, and extremely entertaining. How cool was that robot? Old school effects are remarkable. People built these things by hand, you know? There's just something so much more effective and impressive about that than CGI effects. The cast is really good. Sheedy and Guttenberg are both likable leads. Fisher Steven is a lot of fun. Guttenberg's Police Academy co-star G.W. Bailey plays to type as he did so often in the '80s. Such a fun movie. I had a big goofy grin on my face the whole time I was watching this.I recently read a review of this movie that trashed it. The reviewer's main reasons for doing so were based on how unrealistic it was. He went on and on about how robots aren't capable of this and that. It made me very sad for him because I know he must not have any friends. If you are reading this and you view Short Circuit the same way that reviewer does, please do yourself a favor -- go out, meet some people, have some adventures, enjoy life. Then come back and watch Short Circuit and see if the stick up your ass is gone yet.

Short Circuit is a good movie with a good storyline and a decent but not fantastic cast.I watched the movie because my mom always talked about it as a fond movie she remembers as a child,but it definitely wouldn't hold up today,the effects and especially the acting is very cheesy,but its almost impossible not to fall in love with Number 5,he's a very funny and lovable character.I wasn't impressed with the cast,however,I did enjoy G.W. Bailey's performance,I really enjoyed his asshole that he proved from Police Academy that he can pull it off very well.Short Circuit is a very fun movie that the whole family can enjoy.After the fifth member of a group of robots is electrocuted,he forms human feelings and emotions,and escapes his organisation with no intention of returning.

I remember seeing this movie when I was little and I have loved it ever since. The story is a great family tale thats heart warming and adorable. It is kind of a 80s B movie because the acting is not great but it makes up for it in story line and hilarity with the robot.This movie is about a military robot that is struck by lightning. It gets out of the military compound and now realizes it has gained consciousness. He finds a lady and they become friends and he becomes more and more human.This movie is just great I would still highly recommend this to kids now a days just because they are sure to fall in love with the robot just as I did as a kid.