Short Circuit (PG)

Funny, bullet-proof robot might charm older kids.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
2
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Movie details
  • Studio: Tristar Pictures
  • Directed By: John Badham
  • Cast: Fisher Stevens, Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy
  • Running Time: 98 minutes
  • Release Date: 05/09/1986
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 03/23/2004
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: PG

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that from the opening scene -- which shows robots attacking and blowing up mannequins and heavy war machinery -- to the closing moments -- when bad guy-soldiers are trying to destroy the beloved robot-hero -- guns, rifles, lasers, and automatic weaponry are fired at regular intervals. No one is injured or killed, but the lovable robot character is in danger throughout. Also expect frequent, angry and/or frustrated swearing and mild profanity in many sequences.

Families can talk about how the fighting in this movie looks less than real. Why does no one get hurt in all the gunfire? Also, what makes Number 5 think he's alive? What human feelings does he begin to have? How does the movie show that Stephanie is a caring person? Why is Ben funny? Do people from India really sound like Ben?

Message

Social Behavior:

Heroes are kind to animals, people, and robots. Villains (military and industrial types) are stupid, violent, and hard-hearted. An East Indian scientist's stereotypical speech and struggles with the English language provides much of the humor.

Consumerism:

Product placement is pervasive: Dr. Pepper, Brawny, MacIntosh, Pemco, Colgate, Alaska Air, Oreida, Volkswagen, Texaco, Campbell Soups. Some humor is derived from robot regurgitating familiar 1980s commercials.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Robots are shown preparing and serving cocktails at party. Elderly couple at police roadblock briefly refer to the "grass in the glove compartment."

Violence

All cartoon/fantasy violence. Cars, equipment, mannequins blow up; lots of gunfire, though no one is hit or injured except robots, who almost always bounce back; physical scuffles on two occasions between young woman and ex-boyfriend; Three Stooges hits and slaps in several video excerpts; runaway truck causes cartoon mayhem; machine gun and laser attacks on robots.

Sex

One gentle kiss. Some mild sexual innuendo with one character's continued misuse of words and expressions.

Language

Frequent cursing: "hell" "damnit," "God damn," "pissed off," "Jesus," "fart," "red-ass," "son-of-a-bitch," "bulls--t," "bastard," "dips--t," "holy s--t," "asshole."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Renee Schonfeld

Five robots have been developed to be used in wartime. They're powerful fighting machines. During a storm, lightning strikes one of the robots. "Number 5" malfunctions and escapes from the compound. Hiding out with Stephanie (Ally Sheedy), the robot surprisingly begins to take on the characteristics of a human being. While the security team from the company sets out to find and destroy Number 5 before it blows anything up, Newton (Steve Guttenberg) and Ben (Fisher Stevens), the scientists who created the robot, try to find him first and save him.

Is it any good?

2
It doesn't get much more simplistic than this. The good guys are good; the bad guys are bad; nobody changes much. But the ride has its message and its moments. The message: it's wrong to kill. The moments come when Number 5 meets '80s culture, particularly TV, movies, and commercialism.

The highlight is when the robot mimics what he takes in around him, imitating John Wayne, The Three Stooges, George Raft, and John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. This movie is fun and harmless if viewers can get past the skin-deep characters (and performances), unnecessarily fiery battle sequences, and the lighter-than-air, obligatory romance.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

Age 11+
3


Posted on 07/08/08 by mcarthey Adult contributor

Not as good as I remember

I had purchased this movie in a used store because I remembered liking it as a child. My children (6 and 9) wanted to see it due to their fascination with robots. I turned it off shortly after realizing the amount of language in it was appalling. There is also an early scene where Ally Sheedy is being abused by her (apparent) boyfriend (pushed and yelled at). There is no real family values in the movie and there are many better choices for a peaceful evening.
Age 8+
4


Posted on 06/27/08 by DLJones3423 Adult contributor

Still as funny now as it was

My husband and I laughed hysterically while watching this older movie with our kids. My only objection to having our 5 and 6 year old sons watching it was the swearing. We had to have a discussion about why we don't talk like that. And the opening scene was a little scary. But they loved the rest of the movie and begged to watch it again. The little sexual innuendos went right over their heads, as we had expected. Our tween daughter was indifferent to the movie at first, but she enjoyed it eventually.

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

Age 11+
3


Posted on 07/08/08 by mcarthey Adult contributor

Not as good as I remember

I had purchased this movie in a used store because I remembered liking it as a child. My children (6 and 9) wanted to see it due to their fascination with robots. I turned it off shortly after realizing the amount of language in it was appalling. There is also an early scene where Ally Sheedy is being abused by her (apparent) boyfriend (pushed and yelled at). There is no real family values in the movie and there are many better choices for a peaceful evening.
Age 8+
4


Posted on 06/27/08 by DLJones3423 Adult contributor

Still as funny now as it was

My husband and I laughed hysterically while watching this older movie with our kids. My only objection to having our 5 and 6 year old sons watching it was the swearing. We had to have a discussion about why we don't talk like that. And the opening scene was a little scary. But they loved the rest of the movie and begged to watch it again. The little sexual innuendos went right over their heads, as we had expected. Our tween daughter was indifferent to the movie at first, but she enjoyed it eventually.

Kids Reviews

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