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Fisher Stevens, Michael McKean, Cynthia Gibb, Jack Weston, Tim Blaney ... see more see more... , David Hemblen , Dee McCafferty , Richard Comar , Eve Crawford , Tony De Santis , Barry Flatman , Lili Francks , Phil Jarrett , Eric Keenleyside , Robert La Sardo , Don Lake , Adam Ludwig , Gerard Parkes , Jeremy Ratchford , Kurt Reis , Craig Gardner , Frank Adamson , Chris Barker , Wayne Best , Rummy Bishop , Damon D'Oliveira , Norwich Duff , Patrick Greenwood , Rex Hagon , James Kileen , Jason Kuriloff , Micki Moore , Sam Moses , Tito Nunez , Claudette Roach , Garry Robbins , Ric Sarabia , Jane Schoettle , Peter Shanne , Carlton Watson

Fisher Stevens reprises his role of Ben Jahrvi, the co-inventor of the cute robot Number Five, in this sequel to Short Circuit. Since the last film, Ben has moved to the city, where he lives in a truc... read more read more...k and sells toy Number Fives as a street vendor. Ben plies his trade until one day luck strikes in the form of Sandy (Cynthia Gibb), a toy buyer in dire straits who offers Ben $50,000 if he can quickly churn out a thousand toy robots. Offering to help the naive Ben is street con man Fred (Michael McKean), who becomes Ben's partner and finances the burgeoning enterprise through a loan shark. Ben and Fred begin to manufacture the toys in a warehouse; unfortunately, they soon find the building also houses the entrance of a tunnel dug by thieves, preparing to rob the bank across the street. With things appearing their bleakest, a crate arrives from Montana. Inside is the new and improved Number Five, who now insists on being called Johnny Five. Johnny Five has even learned to talk in a litany of phrases gleaned from television shows, and now helps Ben get started in the toy business. In the process, Ben and Johnny Five contend with the temptations and corrupt business practices of a big city environment. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

53,660 ratings

Critics

38% liked it

13 critics

PG, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Kenneth Johnson

Release Date: July 6, 1988

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DVD Release Date: August 7, 2001

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Stats: 1,592 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,592)

  • fb100002359227440
    May 7, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    Something is better that the original...really.
  • romy861
    May 3, 2011
    romy861
    I can barely remember the first one in all honesty. This one I watched thanks to free movie website Crackle. (I can just see this website is going to be bad news for me. I really can't resist an 80's movie - particularly one I missed out on first time around. Even if I did miss... read more out on it for a reason as with this one!).
    This is actually kind of cute. If it was made today, I would write it off as kidsy crap (and that is still a fair comment), but as it does have the 80's nostalgia thing going for it... pretty watchable. The bits with Johnny 5 are a little tedious, the Indian guy is so stereotyped it is almost offensive, (but hey, 80's movie. PC didn't exist back then!), and the bad guys are a bit annoying, but it is funny in it's way and Cynthia Gibb shines as Sandy.
    Buy it? No way, but watch for free - no complaints here!
  • timandterrybarker
    August 20, 2010
    timandterrybarker
    We bought this DVD for $2, which is less than the cost of a bootleg. Our son likes it because it has a robot in it. The 1980's kitsch...that's for daddy. SC2 harkens back to a time when everyone went around quoting The Church Lady, and street gangs went to the trouble of makin... read moreg up rhymes about themselves. It's also fun to see 1988 downtown Toronto, since no effort whatsoever has been made to dress it up like New York City. Overal, this is a light-hearted family comedy, except for the oddly brutal scene, where a couple of goons beat Johnny 5 to pieces, while he wails "Please don't kill me! I am alive! Aaaaahhh!". Don't worry though. SPOILER -The movie ends with a freeze frame of Johnny 5 jumping for joy, and the credits roll over happy saxophone music. Thank you 1980's.
  • SirPant
    September 21, 2009
    SirPant
    Looses points for not having any Steve Guttenberg action in it!
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Unlike many sequels, "Short Circuit 2" is a good one. Johnny 5's creator, Ben (Fisher Stevens), is making little robot toys when a man named Fred (Michael McKean) convinces him to start a business selling them. Johnny 5 arrives to help the duo out, but some trouble arises. Some t... read morehieves who are hunting for some jewels try their best to disassemble Johnny 5 so they won't have any obstacles in their way. Johnny 5 must find a way to stop the thieves while also surviving.
    The "Short Circuit" movies are some of my favorite movies of all time, I grew up watching them. Even now that I'm grown, I never get tired of seeing them over and over. In my opinion, both of the "Short Circuit" movies are great, but I like this one the best. It has some classic scenes such as when Johnny 5 tours the city for the first time and when he helps Ben talk to Sandy (Cynthia Gibb) by putting the words on a huge billboard.

    "Short Circuit 2" is a great comedy and family movie. It will make you laugh in parts, some parts are sad, and others are heartwarming. Some parts even have a hint of an action movie in them. If you want to see a movie that you'll never forget, watch "Short Circuit 2." I recommend everybody to get it. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I've always loved the Johnny 5 Short Circuit movies and never understood why only two were ever made, 80's classics for sure! I still can't make up my mind which I like better....probably the original slightly, but still.
  • SilentWarProductions2009
    September 8, 2008
    SilentWarProductions2009
    Directed by: Kenneth Johnson.
    Starring: Fisher Stevens, Cynthia Gibb, Michael McKean, Tim Blaney.

    << "I thought you said this thing mis-functioned on you."..."Oh, that is a falsity. What actually happened was we were working on him one day and sudd... read moreenly he is struck by lightning. And, from this moment on, he's having a mind of his own. So, the government tried to destroy him so he ran away. So, now he's living with my friend in Montana, in a cabin, in the woods, in... cognito." >>

    I find it quite stupid that people think this is better than the original. Personally though I don't hate the film, but I do feel it is quite inferior to the original and has the air about it that it is simply a cash in. But if you can over look the horribly mediocre and unfocused first act, the film picks up the pace, delivers a decent enough storyline and keeps Johnny 5 as the main focus, even when the script is not as charming or funny. Acceptable enough.

    Full review coming soon.
  • sanjurosamurai
    April 25, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    better than the first. an interesting way to pose the philosophical questions about A.I. in a family oriented film.
  • RossCollinsUK
    September 22, 2007
    RossCollinsUK
    More from Johnny 5 - I think he gets a gold makeover in this one.
  • superclerk25
    August 2, 2007
    superclerk25
    A pretty good next step. I liked the idea of the flick and the casting was done well. It had ties to the original while being it's own movie as well.
  • garyX
    March 15, 2007
    garyX
    The comedy robot deals with "homies" in "the hood" in the big bad city in a project so ill advised, even Guttenberg wanted nothing to do with it...

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Critic Reviews

Rob Humanick
June 26, 2011
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth

An awkward manifestation of both the typically overwritten trappings of a box-office mandated sequel and a seriously thoughtful rumination on free will. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 9, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

This sequel is slightly better than its barely-above-average predecessor.

Alex Sandell
August 23, 2005
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Entertaining enough, as far as sequels go.

Phil Villarreal
July 21, 2004
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star

One of those "why the?!?!" sequels.

James Sanford
July 9, 2004
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Low-wattage sequel

Clint Morris
September 17, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Just hearing the robot swear is worth the price of rental alone

Scott Weinberg
October 22, 2001
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide

Calling Short Circuit 2 a movie is like calling Cool Whip dinner. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • what 2 movies where Allie Sheedy in the 80's that where hits and dealed with future happening's of today?   Answer »
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  • Where was Stephanie's ranch in Short Circuit 2 ?  Answer »
  • Why did Number 5 go to the city in Short Circuit 2 ?  Answer »
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