Short Circuit - Definition and Overview

Short Circuit was a 1986 comedy sci-fi film starring Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg and directed by John Badham. It revolves around an intelligent and sentient robot named "Number 5" that is worth $11,000,000 and 17 cents. The robot later takes the name "Johnny 5". A sequel, Short Circuit 2, was released in 1988.

Number 5 was one of five prototype robots for the US millitary at a robotic center called Nova Laboratories. During a storm the five robots are outside the laboratory, and lightning strikes Number 5. Somehow, the lighting strike causes the robot to become sentient. It escapes from Nova Laboratories and explores the world. He meets a young woman with an affinity for animals who takes a liking to the robot and hides Number 5 when the millitary comes looking for the very expensive run away.

The big message of the movie, very loosely, is what qualifies as alive.

Number 5 was also a trademark of the company that built the robot, Input Incorporated.

External links

• Short Circuit (1986) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091949/) at the Internet Movie Database