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Still Not Quite Human
Still Not Quite Human
Still Not Quite Human
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Still Not Quite Human
Official release poster
GenreComedy
Family
Science fiction
Based onNot Quite Human
by Seth McEvoy
Written byEric Luke
Directed byEric Luke
StarringJay Underwood
Alan Thicke
Music byJohn Debney
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerNoel Resnick
ProducerJames Margellos
CinematographyRon Orieux
EditorDavid Berlatsky
Running time84 minutes
Original release
NetworkDisney Channel
ReleaseMay 31, 1992 (1992-05-31)

Still Not Quite Human (also known as Not Quite Human III) is a 1992 American science fiction comedy television film written and directed by Eric Luke and starring Jay Underwood and Alan Thicke. It is the third and final film in a series based on the Not Quite Human novels by Seth McEvoy. The story,[1][2] which has a darker tone than the previous films, features the human-looking android, Chip, embarking on a mission to rescue his father, who has been kidnapped by a ruthless tycoon to acquire his knowledge of android technology. Robyn Lively does not reprise her role as Becky, but is mentioned briefly.

Plot

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Dr. Jonas Carson (Alan Thicke) goes to a robotics convention with Chip and an inferior model to test whether or not the world is ready for the idea of living with androids as he does with Chip. When his other android fails, Jonas becomes the subject of ridicule and nearly reveals Chip's status in order to save face, but stops himself, choosing to accept the loss of credibility over the loss of the trust Chip has placed in him. However, Jonas is kidnapped by hired goons of Dr. Frederick Berrigon (Christopher Neame), and replaced by a look-alike android. His android son, Chip (Jay Underwood), notices the swap and manages to reprogram the impostor into an ally. Since he is like an additional Jonas, Chip names him Bonus (Alan Thicke in a dual role).

Chip enlists the aid of a small-time pickpocket, Kyle (Adam Philipson), whom he has just befriended, to help him rescue his father. Bonus is able to lead them to the mansion where Dr. Carson is being held, but tight security prevents them from sneaking in successfully. Chip meets up with Kate Morgan (Rosa Nevin), who is a policewoman. Officer Morgan has been after Kyle's pickpocketing and illicit watch sales for some time, but agrees to not press charges if he helps Chip rescue Jonas. She devises a plan to assume the personas of wealthy investors in order to gain willful entry to Dr. Berrigon's estate, seeking guidance from her rich Aunt Mildred (Betsy Palmer) to prepare them.

Their ploy gets them inside, but they are soon found snooping, so Kate, Kyle, and Bonus keep the guards occupied while Chip finds his father. Just before he breaks into the room where his father is being held, Chip learns that Berrigon was trying to extract Dr. Carson's knowledge to aid in building a war machine android. A moment later, Chip is confronted by a working prototype and is forced to fight it, with Berrigon watching from a distance. Chip has to avoid its laserfire, initially, but he manages to smash the laser with a projectile. The battle becomes a contest of speed and raw strength, with Chip being knocked to the ground and nearly struck in the chest with the end of a metal rod. Chip scrambles up, sets a compressed hydrogen canister on a cart, and smashes the valve off, causing it to speed toward the other android and smash it against a group of canisters, which explode.

Berrigon, having witnessed Chip's victory, realizes that he must be Dr. Carson's android, but Chip flings him into a mud pond. When several policemen follow Kate to make the arrest, a disheveled and frantic Berrigon yells for them to arrest Chip on account of him being an android; unconvinced, they haul him away. Kate gets a promotion to "petty theft", promising to turn Kyle into an honest man. Aunt Mildred, who is attracted to Bonus, starts a relationship with him. Chip and Jonas, who reflects on why he made Chip in the first place, gratefully head home.

Cast

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References

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Still Not Quite Human

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Still Not Quite Human is a American written and directed by Eric Luke, serving as the third and final installment in the Not Quite Human trilogy produced for the . The story centers on Chip Carson, an advanced android teenager portrayed by , who accompanies his creator and adoptive father, scientist Dr. Jonas Carson (), to a robotics convention, only for Dr. Carson to be kidnapped and replaced by a duplicate android by a rival industrialist. With the help of new friends, Chip embarks on a mission to rescue his father, exploring themes of identity, humanity, and family bonds in a lighthearted, family-oriented narrative targeted at viewers aged 5 to 14. The film builds on the established premise from its predecessors, Not Quite Human (1987) and Not Quite Human II (1989), where Dr. Carson first introduces Chip as a lifelike android designed to blend into human society, often passing as his son while navigating school and social challenges. In this entry, the plot escalates the sci-fi elements with corporate intrigue and android duplication, emphasizing Chip's growth in emotional awareness and problem-solving abilities beyond his programming. Supporting cast includes as the antagonistic industrialist, contributing to the film's ensemble dynamic of quirky allies and villains. Premiering on the on May 31, 1992, in a two-hour slot from 7 to 9 p.m., Still Not Quite Human received mixed to positive reception for its whimsical tone and accessible exploration of , though it has been noted for its modest production values typical of early made-for-TV movies. With a runtime of 84 minutes and a genre blend of , , and sci-fi, it holds an average rating of 5.6 out of 10 on based on user votes and 83% on from limited critic reviews. The movie concludes the trilogy without further sequels, leaving a legacy as a nostalgic entry in Disney's early foray into android-themed entertainment.

Overview

General information

Still Not Quite Human is a 1992 American television movie. It was directed and written by Eric Luke. The film was produced by , , and , with a running time of 84 minutes. The movie premiered on the on May 31, 1992, as a Disney Channel Premiere Film. It stars as the android Chip Carson and in dual roles as Dr. Jonas Carson and the android duplicate Bonus Carson. Still Not Quite Human serves as the third and final installment in the Not Quite Human film series, following the 1987 original and its 1989 .

Development

Still Not Quite Human serves as the third installment in a series of Disney television films loosely adapted from Seth McEvoy's young adult novel series Not Quite Human, which began with the 1985 book Batteries Not Included. The screenplay drew on elements from the source material to craft a sequel narrative centered on the android protagonist Chip and his inventor father, expanding the established family dynamics into new adventures involving artificial intelligence and human-android relations. Following the release of the first film, Not Quite Human, in 1987, and its sequel, Not Quite Human II, in 1989, decided to produce a third entry to extend the franchise, capitalizing on the popularity of the sci-fi comedy format among family audiences. and director Eric Luke, who had helmed the second film, returned to pen and direct this outing, integrating key plot devices such as a convention setting and an android replacement scheme to advance the story while maintaining continuity with prior entries. The project was executive produced by Noel Resnick, with James Margellos serving as producer, under the banner of Resnick-Margellos Productions in collaboration with . This production emphasized a blend of and tailored for the Disney Channel's young viewers, featuring returning lead as Dr. Jonas Carson. Pre-production aligned with the early timeline, building directly on the momentum from the late-1980s originals to deliver a concluding chapter in .

Narrative

Plot

Dr. Jonas Carson and his android son Chip, returning characters from prior in the series, attend a convention to demonstrate an inferior android model aimed at gaining public acceptance for such technology. Their presentation fails to impress, but soon after, Jonas is kidnapped by his rival, the wealthy industrialist Dr. Frederick Berrigon, who seeks to force Jonas's involvement in a secretive project to develop advanced war-androids. Berrigon replaces Jonas with an identical android duplicate named Bonus, programmed to impersonate him and comply with the project demands. Chip quickly detects the substitution through subtle behavioral discrepancies and reprograms Bonus to shift its loyalty toward him and the family. To mount a rescue, Chip assembles a makeshift team: the street-smart pickpocket Kyle Roberts, whom he encounters during the convention chaos, and , a former school acquaintance now working as a . Posing as affluent investors interested in Berrigon's technologies, the group infiltrates his heavily guarded estate, with Kyle and the reprogrammed Bonus creating diversions to distract the security forces. Deep within the estate, Chip locates his imprisoned father and uncovers Berrigon's full scheme to mass-produce destructive . The confrontation escalates into a climactic battle where Chip faces off against a prototype war-android, leveraging his superior programming and quick thinking—triggered by igniting a canister—to destroy the machine and overpower Berrigon. In the resolution, Jonas is successfully rescued and staunchly refuses to participate in the military project, leading to Berrigon's arrest by authorities alerted by Kate. The Carson family reunites and returns home, with Bonus integrating into their lives and Kyle beginning a path toward reform, underscoring the strengthening bonds between humans and androids.

Cast and characters

The principal cast of Still Not Quite Human features returning leads from the prior entries in the Not Quite Human series, with taking on dual roles for added narrative and comedic layers. portrays Chip Carson, the teenage android protagonist who is intelligent yet socially awkward and drives the central rescue efforts to save his creator. Alan Thicke plays Dr. Jonas Carson, Chip's creator and father figure, depicted as an ethical scientist whose expertise leads to his kidnapping by rivals. Thicke also portrays Bonus, the reprogrammed android duplicate of Jonas that starts as an but is reprogrammed by Chip to become a key ally in the mission. Christopher Neame appears as Dr. Frederick Berrigon, the villainous rival inventor who pursues unethical applications of android technology for military purposes. Adam Philipson is cast as Kyle, a street-smart pickpocket who provides aid to Chip during the infiltration of the antagonists' operations. Rosa Nevin plays , a skeptical policewoman who reluctantly joins the rescue team to support the effort. Betsy Palmer rounds out the main ensemble as Aunt Mildred, Jonas's supportive relative who offers amid the tension. Notable casting choices include Underwood and Thicke's returns from the 1987 Not Quite Human and 1989 Not Quite Human II, ensuring continuity for the android family dynamic, while Thicke's dual performance as Carson and Bonus enhances the film's themes of identity and duplication.

Production

Filming

for Still Not Quite Human was conducted in 1991, primarily in and around , , . Key filming occurred at studio sets for interior scenes such as the robotics convention, while exteriors for Berrigon's estate and urban chase sequences were shot at a rented and various city locations, including 3490 Cedar St. Directed by Eric Luke, the production was handled by Resnick-Margellos Productions. The production wrapped in advance of the film's May 31, 1992, premiere on the .

Crew and technical aspects

Noel Resnick oversaw the project, with James Margellos serving as . Cinematographer Ron Orieux managed the visual style, emphasizing lighting techniques to enhance the realism of the android characters' synthetic skin textures. David Berlatsky handled the assembly, employing precise cuts to maintain the illusion of dual performances by portraying both human and android roles. composed the original score, integrating comedic synthesizer elements with suspenseful sci-fi motifs to underscore the convention sequences and action set pieces. The production adhered to early television broadcast standards, including a 4:3 and optimized for family-oriented viewing on networks like The .

Release

Broadcast premiere

Still Not Quite Human premiered on the Disney Channel on May 31, 1992, as a Disney Channel Premiere Film, airing at 7:00 PM Eastern Time in a prime-time slot designed to appeal to family audiences with its elements. The broadcast was part of the network's ongoing effort to deliver original content for young viewers, building on the established popularity of the Not Quite Human franchise's previous installments. Promotional campaigns featured previews in Disney Channel Magazine, which highlighted the film's android-themed humor and the return of stars and from the earlier sequels. Advertisements also tied the movie to Seth McEvoy's Not Quite Human , upon which the films were based, to attract fans of the literary source material. As a made-for-television production, it had no theatrical but targeted sci-fi enthusiasts among the channel's youthful demographic. The initial airing included standard commercial breaks typical of cable broadcasts at the time. It was rebroadcast on the on October 10, 1993, in the same Sunday evening slot. While exact Nielsen ratings for the premiere are unavailable, the film's placement in the network's lineup positioned it to reach millions of subscribers in an era when was expanding its original programming for family viewing.

Home media and distribution

Still Not Quite Human was released on in 1993 by Home Video in format, following its television premiere. The release was part of the broader Not Quite Human series availability, with the first two films bundled together on a separate 1993 tape aimed at family audiences. No official DVD edition of the film has been produced, despite fan petitions calling for a home media upgrade of the trilogy around the mid-2000s and beyond. Similarly, it has not received a digital remaster or inclusion in any collection sets, remaining absent from subsequent formats like Blu-ray. The film saw limited international distribution, primarily through television airings on Disney-affiliated channels in select markets outside the , though specific European broadcasts in 1993 are not well-documented. It did not receive wide theatrical releases abroad and was treated largely as content where available. VHS sales were modest, reflecting the film's niche appeal as a made-for-TV within Disney's catalog. Copies became out-of-print over time, leading to scarcity and reliance on secondary markets like for . As of 2025, Still Not Quite Human is not available on major streaming platforms, including Disney+, and lacks official digital purchase options on services like or . Used tapes remain the primary means of access, with no plans announced for a 4K upgrade or modern re-release.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Upon its release, Still Not Quite Human received mixed reviews from critics, with aggregate scores reflecting a generally positive but limited reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 83% approval rating based on two critic reviews. Similarly, it has a user rating of 5.6 out of 10 on IMDb, derived from 581 votes. Contemporary critics praised certain elements of the film's execution within its television constraints. Variety highlighted the effective comedy arising from Chip's development of human reactions while retaining robotic features, noting that these moments generated "some yocks," and commended composer John Debney's witty score as a strong supporting element. One Rotten Tomatoes review specifically lauded Alan Thicke's dual role as Dr. Jonas Carson and the android replica Bonus, describing it as "the role of a lifetime" for the actor, who portrayed the robot "with remarkable conviction," adding a human touch to the android family dynamics. However, the film faced criticisms for its uneven tone and lack of depth. Variety noted that much of the humor fell flat, relying on sloppy rather than inventive storytelling, and that the narrative abandoned logical coherence in favor of kiddy-oriented gags that often failed to land. Some elements, such as the darker undertones in android battles, were seen as jarring against the lighter comedic framework inherited from its predecessors. In retrospective views, the film is often regarded as an underrated entry in Disney's sci-fi lineup, with Thicke's dual performance standing out as a highlight for its blend of sincerity and humor. It received no major awards nominations, underscoring its modest critical footprint. Overall, the consensus positions Still Not Quite Human as a solid capstone to , entertaining for child audiences through its whimsical android adventures but largely forgettable for adult viewers due to its formulaic approach.

Cultural impact

The Not Quite Human trilogy, including its final installment Still Not Quite Human, enjoyed popularity among 1990s viewers for its lighthearted exploration of android humor and family dynamics, with the first two films ranking among the network's top 10 original movies by viewership. This success prompted the 1992 sequel, which aired multiple times in its premiere year, underscoring its appeal as sci-fi entertainment. As the conclusion to the trilogy, Still Not Quite Human wrapped up the story of inventor Dr. Jonas Carson and his android son Chip without spawning further adaptations, marking the end of the series based on Seth McEvoy's novels. The film introduced a darker tone than its predecessors, incorporating suspenseful elements like kidnapping and identity deception, which distinguished it within Disney's output. Notably, Robyn Lively's character from the earlier films is referenced but does not appear, a that highlights the evolving family storyline. Still Not Quite Human contributed to the Disney Channel's early establishment of a niche in family-oriented , featuring comedic protagonists amid the 1990s surge in android tropes in media. It holds a place in cinematic histories of robots as a representative example of Disney's blend of humor and speculative technology for young audiences. In modern times, the film maintains nostalgic relevance through unofficial full uploads on platforms like , where it attracts viewers reminiscing about Disney programming, though it remains absent from official streaming services such as . Despite this, it has not generated major pop culture crossovers or widespread references beyond niche sci-fi discussions.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/still_not_quite_human
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105473/
  3. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-31-tv-1290-story.html
  4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105473/companycredits/
  5. https://d23.com/a-to-z/still-not-quite-human-television/
  6. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/70172-still-not-quite-human?language=en-US
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093649/trivia/
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105473/fullcredits/
  9. https://variety.com/1992/tv/reviews/magical-world-of-disney-still-not-quite-human-1200429578/
  10. https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Still_Not_Quite_Human
  11. https://www.themoviedb.org/collection/297252-not-quite-human-collection
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105473/locations/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105473/fullcredits
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105473/releaseinfo/
  15. https://www.billcotter.com/tvbook/appendix-b.pdf
  16. https://archive.org/details/disneychannelmagazine_1992_mayjuly
  17. https://vhscollector.com/movie/still-not-quite-human
  18. https://www.ebay.com/itm/297516841563
  19. https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/not-quite-human-dvd-release
  20. https://www.reddit.com/r/dvdcollection/comments/151mqz1/unreleased_dvd_wishlist/
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJxPo_wTUV8
  22. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/still-not-quite-human/2030284733/
  23. https://whatsondisneyplus.com/22-missing-or-incomplete-disney-film-and-tv-franchises/
  24. https://ia800500.us.archive.org/32/items/thedcmagazinearchive/080%20-%201992-05%20%28May%29-1992-07%20%28July%29.pdf
  25. https://www.filmsite.org/robotsinfilm9.html
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeUwLqDM9Mw
  27. https://whatsondisneyplus.com/over-300-disney-owned-films-and-shows-missing-from-disney-plus/
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