Not Quite Human (film series)
| Not Quite Human | |
|---|---|
 Official film series logo | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Disney Channel |
Release date | 1987–1992 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Not Quite Human film series,[1][2][3] consists of American family-comedy science fiction films. Made-for-television, the plot of the films center around the creation of a humanoid robot, who becomes a valued family member to its creator, while also learning to navigate the complicated circumstances of the human experience.
The films were met with mixed reception, citing their inferior quality to The Walt Disney Company's other science-fiction comedies (such as Flubber), while acknowledging that the films were created with the studio's attempt at a similar genre for contemporary audiences.[4] Conversely, one critic praised the exploration of human experiences through the lens of science fiction.[1]
Films
[edit]| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Quite Human | June 19, 1987 | Steven H. Stern | Alan Ormsby | Noel Resnick |
| Not Quite Human 2 | September 23, 1989 | Eric Luke | James Margellos | |
| Still Not Quite Human | May 31, 1992 | |||
Not Quite Human (1987)
[edit]When a scientific inventor named Dr. Jonas Carson creates an android teenager named Chip, the lives of he and his daughter Becky are changed forever. Hoping to integrate his invention into society seamlessly, Chip goes to school with Becky to interact with other people. Chip successfully begins to experience the day-to-day functions of a human life, while navigating the awkward and difficult activities as well. As Chip continues his high schooling activities, a former employee of Dr. Carson's discovers Chip's true nature and determines to pursue monetary gains through taking the android and converting its functions into a military equivalent. Together, Dr. Carson and Becky seek to end his plans, with determination to keep Chip as the newest adopted member of their family.[5][6]
Not Quite Human 2 (1989)
[edit]After Chip successfully graduates from high school, he expresses interest in experiencing the next step of human life through college. Though his father Dr. Jonas Carson has his apprehensions, Becky helps to support Chip's next adventures. Before leaving for college, the android downloads some new software that is intended to make his facial expressions more natural. After some of the university's experiences, he begins to miss his family as he has started to have some momentary malfunctions caused from glitches within his programming. Calling to notify his family, Dr. Carons encourages Chip to pursue his interests and so he determines ask out a girl he has been romantically interested in. Upon doing so, he is pleased to find out that she too is android; though she states that her creator who had initially been thought to be her father, does not allow her to have free will. While helping to reprogram her abilities, Roberta accepts his offer and the pair become a couple. After discovering that she is no longer responding to computer commands, the company that developed her set in motion plans to retrieve the android; while the Carsons also discover that the software Chip had downloaded, included malicious software that will over time completely destroy his internal systems. As the family races to find him before it's too late, Chip and Roberta are on the run from her financiers, all while the androids search for a charging station before their power completely depletes.[7]
Still Not Quite Human (1992)
[edit]Dr. Jonas Carson and his adopted android son named Chip attend a robotics convention, where they intend to present an inferior model to the world. When this robot begins to malfunction during the presentation, Dr. Carson accepts the ridicule and refuses Chip's suggestion that they reveal his true nature to protect his son. As they prepare to return home, Dr. Carson is taken hostage by a group and replaced with an android version. Though it is designed to function as Dr. Carson, Chip quickly discerns what has happened and reprograms the android to make its own choices. Finding an ally in the droid, he determines to call it Bonus. Working together the two androids seek the help of local law enforcement to find and rescue Dr. Jonas Carson, how was taken by some wealthy competitive investors. While they begin to implement their rescue plan they also discover that another scientist had been developing a military war-android prototype, with the other scientists needed the assistance of Dr. Jonas to complete their creations, though he refuses to help them. When one weaponized android activates, Chip must use his brilliant programing functions to protect those around him and to rescue his father.[8]
Main cast and characters
[edit]| Character | Films | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Quite Human | Not Quite Human 2 | Still Not Quite Human | ||
| Chip Carson | Jay Underwood | |||
| Dr. Jonas Carson | Alan Thicke | |||
| Becky Carson | Robyn Lively | |||
| Erin Jeffries | Kristy Swanson | |||
| Gordon Vogel | Joseph Bologna | |||
| J.J. Derks | Robert Harper | |||
| Roberta Masters | Katie Barberi | |||
| Dr. Phil Masters | Greg Mullavey | |||
| Prof. Victoria Gray | Dey Young | |||
| Bonus Carson | Alan Thicke | |||
| Dr. Frederick Berrigon | Christopher Neame | |||
| Off. Kate Morgan | Rosa Nevin | |||
Additional crew and production details
[edit]| Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composer | Cinematographer | Editor | Production companies |
Distributing companies |
Running time | ||
| Not Quite Human | Tom Scott | Ken Lamkin | Ron Wisman | Walt Disney Television, Sharmhill Productions |
Buena Vista Pictures, American Broadcasting Company (ABC) |
1 hr 37 mins | |
| Not Quite Human 2 | Michel Rubini | Jules Brenner | David Berlatsky | Walt Disney Television, Resnick/Margellos Productions |
Buena Vista Pictures, Disney Channel |
1 hr 31 mins | |
| Still Not Quite Human | John Debney | Ron Orieux | Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Productions |
1 hr 24 mins | |||
Reception
[edit]Critical and public response
[edit]| Film | Rotten Tomatoes |
|---|---|
| Not Quite Human | TBD (1 review)[9] |
| Not Quite Human 2 | —[10] |
| Still Not Quite Human | TBD (2 reviews)[11] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b King, Susan (May 31, 1992). "Disney's Comic Film About an Android Has a Very Human Touch". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 24, 2024. Cite error: The named reference "Series_TLAT" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Shepherd, Josh (March 14, 2022). "22 Missing Or Incomplete Disney+ Film And TV Franchises". What's on Disney Plus. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ Mutant Reviewers staff (November 20, 2021). "Not Quite Human (1987) — Clearly robotic kid fools the entire world". Mutant Reviewers. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ Rachlin, Jill (August 13, 1993). "History for the kids". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Berry, Joana (June 19, 1987). "Note Quite Human". Radio Times. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Stahl, Eileen "Raptor Red" (August 26, 2009). "Not Quite Human". Something Awful. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ George, Sue (September 23, 1989). "Not Quite Human II". Radio Times. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ May 29, 1992 (29 May 1992). "Magical World of Disney Still Not Quite Human". Variety. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Not Quite Human". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "Not Quite Human II". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
- ^ "Still Not Quite Human". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 11, 2023.