Back to the Future is a funny and entertaining science fiction movie starring Michael J Fox as Marty McFly, a young man whose friendship with a mad scientist propels him back 30 years with a mission to get home, put a few things right, and just maybe have a little fun on the way.

Dr Emmett Brown, played by the definitive mad scientist actor Christopher Lloyd, has created a machine out of a DeLorean car that can travel in time, but some sinister characters have taken a real interest in his research. So much so that his life is in danger… which is where Marty might just have to come to the rescue. While in the past he meets his parents (played by Lea Thomspon and Crispin Glover) and the father of Biff (Thomas E. Wilson), the school bully. Like father, like son, or so they say – Marty will soon find out. Can Marty’s problem in the present – his overbearing mother, weak father, and unfulfilled love, and teachers that hate him for no reason be remedied from the past? There’s also the slight problem of appearing to be stranded at a time when he hadn’t even been born yet…

Directed by Robert Zemeckis in his heyday, the story moves along quickly but with characters that you can really care about. Fox gives an endearing performance as Marty, and despite the eighties cheesiness that saturates the movie, he is a character that young people today can relate to – as well as those of us who were [cough] young when the film was originally released in 1985. None of the cast disappoint and many play dual roles (themselves and younger versions of themselves) very effectively. For me though it’s Chris Lloyd’s performance that makes this such a marvelous film to watch (again and again). He is so amazingly full of manic energy, so convincingly walking the thin line between genius and insanity, and his facial expressions are almost worth watching the film for on their own. The plot is also very nicely done, often clever without ever making the mistake of taking itself too seriously. There is of course a large dose of humour helping things along. Then of course there’s Biff. He is one of the most instantly dislikable characters to ever hit the screen. It’s really funny, therefore, when bad things happen to him (sometimes involving dung - ”I HATE dung!”. Jennifer (Claudia Wells) as Marty’s love interest is pretty, and… well, that’s about all she is, but that’s all she’s required to be.

All in all, Back to the Future remains one of the most enjoyable humorous science fiction films ever made. It’s fast pace, loveable / hateable characters, and bucket loads of humour combine to make it a film that you can watch repeatedly and thoroughly enjoy it each time. Despite it’s being over twenty years old now, the special effects still don’t look too dated either.

Other Information

Runtime: 116 minutes (definitely not a second too long!)
Rating: PG
At time of writing, this movie was voted #121st greatest film of all time over at the International Movie DataBase.

Quotes

(Anything in italics is my own comment on the quote.)

Marty McFly: Wait a minute, Doc, are you trying to tell me that my mother has got the hots for me?
Dr. Emmett Brown: Precisely.
Marty McFly: Whoa, this is heavy.
Dr. Emmett Brown: There's that word again; "heavy". Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the earth's gravitational pull?

(Yes, back in the 80s people did used to say things were “heavy” a lot. And “deep”, though not in this film.)

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Lorraine Baines: Wait a minute, don't I know you from somewhere?
George McFly: Yes. Yes. I'm George, George McFly. I'm your density. I mean... your destiny.

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George McFly: Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain.

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Mr. Strickland: I noticed your band is on the roster for the dance auditions after school today. Why even bother, McFly? You don't have a chance, you're too much like your old man. No McFly ever amounted to anything in the history of Hill Valley!
Marty McFly: Yeah, well, history is gonna change.

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[In 1955, Tab and Pepsi Free aren't invented yet]
Lou: You gonna order something, kid?
Marty McFly: Ah, yeah... Give me a Tab.
Lou: Tab? I can't give you a tab unless you order something.
Marty McFly: All right, give me a Pepsi Free.
Lou: You want a Pepsi, PAL, you're gonna pay for it.

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Dr. Emmett Brown: I'm sure in 1985 plutonium is available at every corner drugstore, but in 1955 it's a little hard to come by.

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[on the phone while all the clocks chime at once]
Dr. Emmett Brown: Are those my clocks I hear?
Marty McFly: Yeah! Uh, it's 8 o'clock!
Dr. Emmett Brown: Perfect! My experiment worked! They're all exactly 25 minutes slow.
Marty McFly: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Doc... Are you telling me that it's 8:25?
Dr. Emmett Brown: Precisely.
Marty McFly: Damn! I'm late for school!
[hangs up, grabs his skateboard and rushes out]

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More Robert Zemeckis:

Back to the Future 2
Back to the Future 3

Romancing the Stone
Jewel of the Nile



Back to the Future also inspired a great ride at the Universal Studios Theme Park

No surprises here - Back to the Future is in my Top Ten Science Fiction Films list.


Recommended: Yes