Short Circuit
Directed by John Badham
- science fiction
- comedy
- family
The story
After a lightning bolt zaps a robot named Number 5, the lovable machine starts to think he's human and escapes the lab. Hot on his trail is his designer, Newton, who hopes to get to Number 5 before the military does. In the meantime, a spunky animal lover mistakes the robot for an alien and takes him in, teaching her new guest about life on Earth.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated 1980s studio colour with a sunny, slightly storybook sheen: Oregon countryside in flat daylight, a sprawling lab full of cool fluorescent corridors, and warm interiors where lamps and kitchen light soften the edges. The camera is mostly conventional and unfussy, with plenty of medium two-shots and bustling set-piece chases through supermarkets and roadside diners rather than any austere stillness. Synth-pop and bouncy 80s orchestral cues keep the pulse light, and the robot's clicking, whirring movements are a constant source of sound comedy. Vibe: playful, big-hearted and easy, a little goofy in the best way. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a family evening where everyone wants to laugh. Intensity is low: some slapstick, a few threatening men in uniform and brief tension during the military pursuit, but no gore and only mild peril. Pacing is brisk and eventful, and its emotional core is a lonely machine gradually discovering curiosity, kindness and friendship with the people who take him in. It is for viewers who want something warm, funny and gentle with a touch of wonder.
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