Short Circuit 2
Promotional one-sheet poster.
Directed by	Kenneth Johnson
Produced by	David Foster Gary Foster Lawrence Turman
Written by	Brent Maddock S.S. Wilson
Starring	Tim Blaney (voice) Fisher Stevens Michael McKean Cynthia Gibb Jack Weston Tim Blaney
Music by	Charles Fox Jim Steinman (song: Holding Out for a Hero)
Cinematography	John McPherson
Editing by	Conrad Buff IV
Distributed by	TriStar Pictures
Release date(s)	1988
Running time	110 min
Language	English
Preceded by	Short Circuit
IMDb profile

Short Circuit 2 is a 1988 motion picture, sequel to Short Circuit directed by Kenneth Johnson. It starred Fisher Stevens as Ben Jahrvi; Michael McKean as Fred Ritter; Cynthia Gibb as Sandy Banatoni; and Johnny 5 (the main character - a very friendly, self-aware robot), voiced by Tim Blaney. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Kenneth Johnson (born 26 October 1942) is an American screenwriter, producer and director best known as the creator of the series V. His creative efforts are almost entirely concentrated in the area of television science fiction. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Template:Wikified Template:Expanded Lawrence Turman (28 November 1926, Los Angeles, CA - present) is a celebrated Hollywood producer who presently serves as the director of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California. ... Brent Maddock is a writer/director who has worked on several high profile projects like Short Circuit, Tremors, and Wild Wild West. ... S.S. Wilson is a writer of cult and mainstream science fiction, and is probably best known for writing (and occasionally directing), with collaborator Brent Maddock, the Tremors film and television series. ... Tim Blaney (born in 1959) is an American voice actor. ... Fisher Stevens, born Steven Fisher, (November 27, 1963) in Chicago, Illinois is an American actor, living in New York City. ... Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard Lenny Kosnowski on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; as one of the members of Spinal Tap; as a Saturday Night Live cast member; and for other various appearances in... Cynthia Gibb (born December 14, 1963 in Bennington, Vermont, USA) is an American actress and former model who has starred in film and on television. ... Weston as Pig in The Cincinnati Kid Jack Weston (August 21, 1924 - May 3, 1996), born Jack Weinstein, was an American movie and television actor. ... Tim Blaney (born in 1959) is an American voice actor. ... Charles Fox was born and raised in New York City. ... Holding Out for a Hero is a song by Bonnie Tyler that was originally released in 1984. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... // Michael Jacksons first film was Moonwalker Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise Who Framed Roger Rabbit, starring Bob Hoskins Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy Big, starring Tom Hanks Twins, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito Crocodile Dundee II Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis The Naked Gun... For alternate meanings see Short circuit (disambiguation) A short circuit (sometimes known as simply a short) is a fault whereby electricity moves through a circuit in an unintended path, usually due to a connection forming where none was expected. ... // Michael Jacksons first film was Moonwalker Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise Who Framed Roger Rabbit, starring Bob Hoskins Coming to America, starring Eddie Murphy Big, starring Tom Hanks Twins, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito Crocodile Dundee II Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis The Naked Gun... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... For alternate meanings see Short circuit (disambiguation) A short circuit (sometimes known as simply a short) is a fault whereby electricity moves through a circuit in an unintended path, usually due to a connection forming where none was expected. ... Kenneth Johnson (born 26 October 1942) is an American screenwriter, producer and director best known as the creator of the series V. His creative efforts are almost entirely concentrated in the area of television science fiction. ... Fisher Stevens, born Steven Fisher, (November 27, 1963) in Chicago, Illinois is an American actor, living in New York City. ... Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard Lenny Kosnowski on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; as one of the members of Spinal Tap; as a Saturday Night Live cast member; and for other various appearances in... Cynthia Gibb (born December 14, 1963 in Bennington, Vermont, USA) is an American actress and former model who has starred in film and on television. ... Johnny 5 explores the city. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Self-consciousness. ... ASIMO, a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda. ... Tim Blaney (born in 1959) is an American voice actor. ...

Plot

An undisclosed amount of time after the first movie, Stephanie Speck and Newton Crosby are hiding out with the robot Number 5 (who has since rechristened himself Johnny 5), while Newton's co-worker, Benjamin Jahrvi, moves to New York City, New York in order to try and start a booming business selling toy versions of Johnny out on the street. One such toy makes its way into a nearby department store, where it's spotted by struggling associate saleswoman Sandy Banatoni. Enraptured by the ingenious little gadgets, Sandy works out an order for 1000 of them with Ben with the help of nearby street hustler Fred Ritter, who uses a loan shark to gain the equipment, temps, and housing needed to complete the order on time. Johnny 5 explores the city. ... New York, New York redirects here. ... A loan shark is a person or body that offers illegal unsecured loans at high interest rates to individuals, often backed by blackmail or threats of violence. ... A temporary work agency, or temp agency or temporary staffing firm finds and retains workers. ...

Unfortunately for the two reluctant business partners, the warehouse that Fred chose for them is the base of operations for a duo of thieves hired by bank teller Oscar Baldwin to tunnel underground to his bank's safe across the street; a priceless set of jewels is going on display in a week, and until the exhibit opens, they'll be housed in the bank for safe-keeping. As Fred's loan of the building for Ben's fledgling business will slow them down, the thieves attempt to scare the duo off by trashing their equipment, making it impossible for them to meet the deadline. A bank teller is an employee of a bank who deals directly with most customers. ...

Fortunately for Ben, a large crate arrives from Stephanie and Newton, containing Johnny 5; wanting to help Ben with his business, they decided the best way would be to send Johnny, but warns him to keep an eye on the input-hungry robot. On cue, Johnny demonstrates how he can build the toys in rapid time, and both Ben and Fred are happy to let Johnny do all the work, allowing Ben free time to study up for what he would need to become a U.S. citizen. However, keeping in mind Johnny's thirst for knowledge, Ben makes Fred swear not to reveal the nature of their location to Johnny, believing (rightfully) that the robot would go nuts if he knew he was living in a major metropolis filled with input. The term input has a variety of uses in different fields. ... United States citizenship is membership of the United States political system. ...

Learning of Johnny's presence, and his impact on their plans, the thieves attempt to destroy Johnny, but the former military robot proves too strong. To make matters worse, Fred accidentally lets it slip that Johnny is in a city the next day, and during his wild romps through the metropolis (including being duped into helping a gang steal car stereos), inadvertently makes friends with Oscar, himself. This gives Oscar an idea on how to get the jewels, but contacts his associates to discuss it.

Meanwhile, Fred asking questions about Johnny 5 from Ben, who has fallen in love with Sandy over their business talks, and demands to know why they don't just sell Johnny to take care of their financial problems (as Johnny is worth over $11 million). Ben staunchly refuses, giving a vague "You wouldn't understand" as his explanation, but Fred is left unconvinced. After convincing Ben to ask Sandy out on a date, Fred uses that time alone to attempt to sell Johnny to a few high-profile businessmen (including some with knowledge about the SAINT prototype project). During a short side-trip to a local bookstore, Johnny makes a huge mess, forcing Fred to try to cover for him before they're caught by security. Later, Johnny gets wise to Fred's plan to sell him, and escapes through a window of the office building where Fred's deal was taking place.

Now alone in the big city, Johnny soon realizes through his interaction with passers-by just how lonely he is, because of his inability to convince anyone that he is alive. In an attempt to blend in, he steals a trenchcoat and beanie hat, but is caught by the police, who were informed of his actions in the bookstore. Johnny is later found by an angry and concerned Ben (angry at Fred for attempting to sell Johnny and subsequently losing him, and concerned for Johnny's safety) in the NYPD's stolen goods warehouse. That night, Ben and Johnny have a talk about Johnny's actions in the city and his reasons behind them, which reveals that they are much alike in their situations: Johnny is lonely because no one believes he's alive, while Ben is lonely because he can't seem to attract Sandy's interest, making him feel as if she doesn't see him as 'alive' beyond being business associates. Realizing that his encyclopedic knowledge about dating could help Ben, Johnny offers to help the struggling roboticist with Sandy during their date.

At first, Ben tries to improvise on his date with Sandy, then Johnny gives him prompts via a nearby radio-controlled billboard. Ben fails miserably, and Sandy feels that he is just playing with her head, until he finally comes clean about his and Johnny's ruse and the two lovebirds find something in common to build their relationship around: oldies music. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The next day, Oscar and his goons, pressed for time and running out of options, agree to use Oscar's friendship with Johnny to persuade the robot into helping them finish the tunnel. They also plan to kidnap Ben and Fred to keep them from interfering. The plan works well, with Ben and Fred being transported to a Chinese restaurant across town and locked in its freezer, while Oscar convinces Johnny that the tunnel could be used as an escape route for Ben in case the thieves come back. Johnny completes the tunnel, breaks into the safe, and unlocks the safe deposit box that holds the jewels. Johnny finally becomes aware of Oscar's deception, but after a brief chase through part of the city, Oscar and his goons attack Johnny, and to prevent him being a witness to their crimes, they severely damage him. However, before they can 'kill' Johnny, he takes control of a nearby remote control model airplane and uses it to chase them away. Safe deposit boxes inside a Swiss bank. ...

Although Johnny manages to survive, he is still slowly dying. He jury-rigs a car battery to himself in order to extend his life. Ben and Fred are also spared their icy fate, after transmitting to Sandy's answering machine directions to the restaurant they are being held in the form of short musical clues. However, when returning to the warehouse to find Johnny, Ben and Sandy are captured by the police, while Fred escapes and manages to find Johnny in an alleyway. Fred, having had a change of heart during his time with Ben at the restaurant, and startled by how smashed up Johnny is, becomes Johnny's novice savior. He uses a nearby Radio Shack and Johnny's typed-out instructions on a computer to patch him up enough to reconnect his main battery and memory, which - along with repairing his broken arm - is enough for Johnny to make the remaining repairs himself. ... RadioShack Corporation (formerly Radio Shack) (NYSE: RSH) runs a chain of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe. ...

Things are looking bad for Johnny, however: despite Fred's best efforts, Johnny has still not repaired himself enough to save his power supply from fading within one hour, and Oscar has almost escaped, packing the jewels in plastic dinosaurs for transport past customs and over the border. Despite this, Johnny is determined to bring Oscar and his cronies to justice, and, after a brief chase, finds and corners them at a construction zone near the Hudson River. Oscar and his gang are captured, but the effort drains Johnny's remaining power reserves, causing Ben (who, with Sandy, was released and used to help track down Johnny, after the Radio Shack's owner reports having seen them) to frantically use a defibrillator in an effort to save Johnny. Ben succeeds, to everyone's delight, and manages to keep him alive long enough to make full repairs on him. The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk in Mahican, is a river that runs through the eastern portion of New York State and, along its southern terminus, demarcates the border between the states of New York and New Jersey. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

At the end of the movie, Johnny has become a celebrity overnight, his face and tale with the jewel thieves adorning the front page of newspapers and magazines everywhere. As a result of this newfound fame, his look-alike toys have become a hot commodity, allowing Sandy, Ben, and Fred to go into business for themselves as a multibillion dollar corporation known as Input, Inc. The movie concludes with Ben's inauguration into U.S. citizenship, which he shares with a newly-restored - and golden - Johnny, officially recognized as a living, thinking, citizen with all the associated rights and privileges. Asked how he felt about his new status, Johnny enthusiastically jumps into the air, shouting that he feels "alive!"

Cast

• Tim Blaney as the voice of Johnny 5
• Fisher Stevens as Ben Jahrvi
• Michael McKean as Fred Ritter
• Cynthia Gibb as Sandy Banatoni
• Jack Weston as Oscar Baldwin
• Dee McCafferty as Saunders
• David Hemblen as Jones

Tim Blaney (born in 1959) is an American voice actor. ... Fisher Stevens, born Steven Fisher, (November 27, 1963) in Chicago, Illinois is an American actor, living in New York City. ... Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard Lenny Kosnowski on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; as one of the members of Spinal Tap; as a Saturday Night Live cast member; and for other various appearances in... Cynthia Gibb (born December 14, 1963 in Bennington, Vermont, USA) is an American actress and former model who has starred in film and on television. ... Weston as Pig in The Cincinnati Kid Jack Weston (August 21, 1924 - May 3, 1996), born Jack Weinstein, was an American movie and television actor. ...

Trivia

• Ben Jabituya became Ben Jahrvi because his original Short Circuit name was intended as a joke. When the sequel had to be centered around Ben, it was decided that he would need a more realistic name.
• Although the film is set in New York, it was filmed in Canada, and features numerous Toronto landmarks, including script references to Simpson's and the World's Biggest Bookstore. The final American citizenship ceremony scene was filmed in front of the Ontario Legislature, Queen's Park.

• Ally Sheedy, who played "Stephanie Speck" in the first film, lends her voice to this movie in one scene as Johnny 5 reads a letter from her to Ben.

• A clip from this movie was seen in an episode of Muppet Babies, where Johnny 5 goes "To the moon, Alice!".

• The box van (painted in the Nova Robotics colors) is seen in Ben's warehouse - instead of a GMC Vandura (used in the first film), a Ford Econoline is used instead.

• In the first film, Ben is a US citizen, with him being from Bakersfield, Ca and his "Ancestors" being from Pittsburgh, Pa, but in the second film he is studying throughout the film to become a citizen, finally achieving it at the end of the movie.

• The letter reading sequence was parodied in the April 3 episode of Shortpacked!

Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as part of the entertainment industry. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... The Robert Simpson Company, or Simpsons, was a Canadian department store chain, founded by Robert Simpson in 1872. ... The Worlds Biggest Bookstore The Worlds Biggest Bookstore is a bookstore owned by Chapters in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Alexandra Elizabeth Sheedy (born June 13, 1962) is an American screen and stage actress, possibly best known for her roles in the Brat Pack films The Breakfast Club and St. ... Johnny 5 explores the city. ... Jim Hensons Muppet Babies is an American animated television series that aired from 1984 to 1991 on CBS. Loosely based on a sequence in the Muppet film The Muppets Take Manhattan, in which Miss Piggy imagined what it would be like if she and Kermit the Frog grew up... 1996 GMC Vandura The GMC Vandura, also sold as the Chevy Van, was a full-size van produced by GMC from 1970 (introduced in April 1970 as 1971 models), up until 1996. ... The Ford E-Series, also known as the Econoline, is a line of full-size vans and truck chassis from Ford Motor Company. ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... Shortpacked! is a webcomic by David Willis set in a toy store. ...

External links

• Short Circuit 2 at the Internet Movie Database
• Johnny-Five.com
• TeamRobotics.co.uk, a Short Circuit fansite.