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Short Circuit 2

(1988, Rated PG, Comedy, Starring Michael McKean, Fisher Stevens, Tim Blaney)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fewer explosions and more charm than the first.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Robot and his inventor are innocents and have strong moral centers. They're taken advantage of and their special talents are used for criminal acts by more predatory characters, but heroes' goodness prevails. Fast-talking con artist learns important lessons. Some stereotyping of inner city teen hoodlums and East Indian with language problems.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Cartoon-like skirmishes between masked robbers and heroes, once with gun as threat; robbers smash up manufacturing facility; car vandalism; crooks fall through trap door; heroes kidnapped and held captive in meat locker, played for humor; robot beats baddies in one physical fight, but in another the robot is severely bashed, beaten, and bloody (battery acid) near "robot death."

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Occasional swearing: "bulls--t," "crap," "ass," "balls," "damn," "pissed off," "hell," "bastard."

  • Consumerism:

    Radio Shack products are used as plot device. Minimal other visual product placement: Labat's beer, Slazenger, Coca Cola.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Character is shown smoking and coughing in one scene.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Short Circuit 2

Parents need to know that positive messages are dramatized in this movie including the wonders of knowledge; the value of honesty, friendship, and loyalty; and concern for others. Most physical action is cartoon-like, causing no serious injury. There are hapless bad guys, pratfalls, trap doors, and parachutes. The exception is a serious, lengthy attack on Robot Johnny 5 near the conclusion. He is severely smashed, battered, and broken, in danger of total memory failure (i.e. death). Final suspense is centered on efforts to rebuild the robot, saving his "life."

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what it means to be an outsider in the world. How do people try to use the innocence and special talents of Johnny 5 and Ben for their own gain? Why does Fred change his attitude? What has he learned?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    stringbean
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    There is quite a bit of language in this movie for 8 year olds. There is also a scene in a bar where it shows a woman in the background in a g-string dancing and getting ready to remove her top.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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