Back to the Future is a classic movie from the ’80s. It was never meant to have a sequel, but after the phenomenal success of the first Back to the Future, the producers decided to make it into a trilogy. Back to the Future II is the second installment in the series.

In this movie, Doc Brown and Marty travel into the future in order to save Marty’s son from jail. While in the future saving his son, Marty gets an ingenious idea: buy a sports almanac and get rich by betting on the winners after he returns to the present. Unfortunately, Biff sees Marty discussing the idea with Doc, notices the time machine, goes back in time, and gives the almanac to his former self.

Returning to 1985, things are different. The peaceful town of Hill Valley has been transformed into a land of nightmares. Biff is now filthy rich, and runs the town. Marty has to go back to the time when Biff received the book, in order to prevent Biff from making a fortune and changing the timeline. Coincidentally, Biff was given the book during the week of the lightning storm and the Enchantment Under The Sea dance that was the subject of the original Back to the Future. Marty and Doc have to avoid running into their future selves.  It can get a little confusing, so you have to pay attention.

The writing is clever, as the previous movie is integrated into the new movie. The only drawback to this movie, is if the timeline had changed to the horrific 1985 that appears in the middle of the movie, Biff would have never received the Sports Almanac to become rich in the first place. If you don't put too much thought into that fact, the movie is fun.

Watching the sequel, created 20 years ago, is certainly interesting. The year that Marty and Doc travel to is 2015, which is only six years away. Although a lot of things have changed since 1989 when this movie was released, we don’t have flying cars, hovercraft, automatically lacing shoes, or many of the other technological marvels that were envisioned. Some things have come to be, like big screen televisions and webcams.

The movie is still fun to watch. I introduced my six-year-old to this movie, and she loves it too. Whether you enjoyed the movie as a kid, or weren't even born when it was made, it is well worth renting or adding to your movie collection.

It is better to view the original movie before watching Back to the Future II.  The movie seems to assume that you know the details of the first movie, as the plot is an extension of the original movie.

Additional Details

This movie was directed by Robert Zemeckis. It stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson, and Elisabeth Shue. It has a run time of 108 minutes.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8