SHORT CIRCUIT: SPECIAL EDITION [PG]

While the timing of this re-release of the minor 1986 comedy hit about a sentient robot named Johnny 5 may be suspect — a month before Pixar’s annual windfall, Wall-E (about a robot who looks suspiciously like Johnny 5) — it doesn’t diminish its appeal and staying power. The pic starred a pre-punchline Steve Guttenberg as Dr. Newton Crosby, an AI pioneer whose work is used by the military to create five prototype soldier robots. When he learns that one of his creations has become self-aware after being struck by lightning, he teams with animal lover Stephanie Speck (Ally Sheedy) and Crosby’s Indian assistant Ben Jabituya (Fisher Stevens) to protect its human rights. Hijinks ensue (and zany hijinks will ensue if the Weinsteins cast Ben Stiller for their planned 2010 remake).

The star here is the robot, which took a goodly chunk of the budget (and it shows). It was a simple telemetry suit which allowed the articulated robot skeleton to mimic the movements of it operator, and it worked like a charm. Combined with a simple but expressive face and a sunny turn by Tim Blaney (best known as Frank the Pug from Men In Black II) as the voice of Johnny 5, the movie took a Big Megillah of question like “What Is Life?” and made it sweet and bite-sized. This is largely thanks to the script by S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock, who went on to pen the 1988 sequel and the cheeky subterranean Jaws tribute, Tremors. The human characters, including Guttenberg’s Police Academy nemesis G.W. Bailey, are all pretty bland and cookie cutter, with the exception of the very white Stevens’ Hindi caricature. He’s lovable, and stays just this side of racist (like a real-life Apu from “The Simpsons”) and is a perfect companion for Johnny, as they are equally as socially stunted and learning to connect at the same time.

As for features, it looks better than ever, available in a way-wide 2.40:1 anamorphic ratio for the first time. Beyond that enhancement, it is essentially the long out-of-print Special Edition from 2000, but fans probably won’t complain for the double-dipping here. There’s a rich commentary track by Wilson and Maddock and director John Badham, a slew of interviews with cast and crew and a 7-minute featurette called “The Creation Of Number 5.” Hardcore backlotters will appreciate the behind-the-scenes photo gallery and original concept art, and everyone will surely appreciate the new SRP of just $14.98. Number 5…alive!••• –Robert Newton

*THROWBACK TRIVIA ::: On his 1986 album, Polka Party, “Weird Al” Yankovic spoofed El DeBarge’s hit song from Short Circuit, “Who’s Johnny?” Al’s version was called “Here’s Johnny,” a tribute to Johnny Carson’s lieutenant, Ed McMahon. Sample lyric: “I got a letter from him just the other day * He said ‘You may already be a winner!’ * A trouper ’til the end…a Clydesdale’s best friend…” You know a parody’s really good when the song it sends up becomes an afterthought. We’re partial to “Rhythm of the Night,” anyway, El’s 1985 hit with his band, DeBarge, from the glowingly good 1985 kitsch-to-the-head, The Last Dragon.

*SPECIAL FEATURES ::: Commentary by Director John Badham and Writers S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock; Isolated Music and Effects Track; Original Theatrical Trailer; Featurette - “The Creation of Number 5″; Cast and Crew Interviews; Featurette - “Behind the Scenes of ‘Short Circuit’”; On the Set and Behind-the-Scenes Photo Gallery; Original Artwork on the Creation of Number 5; Original Theatrical Poster and Press Kit Photos

Watch El DeBarge’s music video for “Who’s Johnny?” (if you dare!):