Short Circuit 2 ** (1988, Fisher Stevens, Michael McKean, Cynthia Gibb, Jack Weston) – Classic Movie Review 4581

Director Kenneth Johnson’s pleasantly silly 1988 sci-fi fantasy comedy sequel is aimed at an even younger audience than the 1986 teen movie original. Alas, original stars Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg and director John Badham are not involved, but the same writers S S Wilson and Brent Maddock and producer David Foster are. Instead it stars Fisher Stevens, whose performance was a downside of the first film.

This time the cute robot ‘Number Five’ heads off with part one’s Ben Jabituya, now called Ben Jahveri (Fisher Stevens) for New York, where they link up with toy-maker Fred Ritter (Michael McKean) and tubby villain Oscar Baldwin (Jack Weston).

It is much cornier and considerably less charming and snappy than before, but it is still some fun for children and offers some laughs for adults too. McKean and Weston are good value.

Also in the cast are Cynthia Gibb, David Hemblen and Dee McCaffrey, with Tim Blaney as the voice of Johnny 5.

A Short Circuit remake was announced as development in 2013 with Fisher Stevens interested in returning.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4581

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