Short Circuit 2: Not Quite E.T., But Johnny 5 Still Delivers!

Okay, so I just re-watched "Short Circuit 2" for the first time in, like, forever. Man, talk about a blast from the past! It's no "E.T." (let's be real), but Johnny 5 still has that goofy charm that got to me as a kid. Remember how heartwarming the first movie was? He could memorize stuff like it was nothing. While this isn't as good overall, it still has its moments. Seeing him navigating the Big City—NYC looking super 80s gritty as ever—was genuinely funny. That scene where he's trying to understand slang? Pure gold! "Losers do what?" Ha! Fisher Stevens is back as Ben Jahrvi, and while he's trying to keep up with Johnny 5's antics, their friendship still really sells the movie. The bad guys are pretty cartoonish, yeah (Michael McKean as the pawn shop owner in it for himself!), but honestly, did we expect subtlety? It's a kids movie! There's a pretty clear good vs evil message. I think the thing that always bugged me a little was how easily they manipulated Johnny 5 and his good nature. Remember how he was building the robot army in that warehouse? Just felt wrong. But hey, gotta have a plot, right? The special effects look a little dated, naturally, but for the time, Johnny 5 was a pretty convincing robot dude. He still holds up reasonably well. It's a fun, goofy movie with a good heart. Is it high art? Nah. But if you're looking for a dose of 80s nostalgia and a few laughs, then yeah, give "Short Circuit 2" another spin. Ultimately, the film holds a special place in my childhood memories. It's a movie that tried to teach us about humanity, empathy, and what it means to be 'alive,' all through the eyes of a robot struggling to find his place in the world... and okay, maybe a little bit of greed and good old-fashioned 80's action. 'No disassemble!'