Newton Crosby (Steve Guttenberg) develops through Nova Robotics a brand-new quintet of military-based robot weapons which successfully test in front of the top brass.
However, whilst Crosby and the brass celebrate at a party at the Nova complex, the fifth robot, Number 5, is accidentally struck by lightning and develops a mind of its’ own, managing to escape the clutches via a garbage disposal truck. With the army and Nova reps in hot pursuit, Number 5 (voiced by Tim Blaney) finds his way to the home of animal lover Stephanie Speck (Ally Sheedy, WAR GAMES, THE BREAKFAST CLUB), who mistakes the robot as an alien from another planet.
When she discovers the reality, she ends up looking after him. However, Crosby and fellow scientist Ben Jabituya (Fisher Stevens) are onto him and are determined to bring the robot back, whilst the military have orders to destroy it….
John Badham’s sweet comical sci-fi yarn of AI is a very primitive film these days in full on internet and superhighway traffic, but maintains a charm that still captures the heart, thanks to the robot and a great naive performance from underrated actress Sheedy.