Back To The Future (1985)

This is one of those films that likely needs little introduction. A small-scale entertaining film that went on to become a huge box office hit, it is probably the best-known time travel movie of all time (with the possible exception of the Terminator films). It isn't the best time travel movie of all time but it is still a good piece of entertainment.

The film starts off with Christopher Lloyd's stereotypical crackpot inventor Doc Brown inventing the time machine which, for reasons best known to himself, he makes out of a Dellorean car. Friendly teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is delighted to help Doc with his initial experiment, but things go horribly wrong after the shady criminals Doc obtained a crucial component from come looking for revenge. After Doc is shot, Marty has to escape in the Dellorean, soon finding that the only way he can escape is to use its time travel capabilities. This sends him back to his hometown in the 1950s (from the 'modern day' 1980s) where he has to enlist Doc's help to get him back to his own era. Complications emerge after he accidentally interferes in the meeting between his teenage father (Crispin Glover) and mother. He must somehow find a way to get them together. If he doesn't he will slowly fade away (exactly why he doesn't just vanish immediately is not satisfactorily explained).

The scene is set for some light culture-clash comedy as the 1980s teenager finds himself in the rather different era of the 1950s. He is amused by some of the quaint customs of the era – although its ironic that Marty's 1980s attitudes now seem more than a little bit dated – but also finds out that his parent's teenage years weren't quite what he had been led to expect. It makes for some pleasant comedy, the reasonably clever time travel is nicely intricate, and together with the likeable characters, this makes for a compelling story.

In some cases the humour does seem slightly forced and the dialogue a bit weak, both things that were improved upon in the two sequels. Robert Zemeckis' direction is adequate, the soundtrack is good (especially the memorable title theme) and the acting is excellent – particularly Lloyd, although Michael J. Fox and Crispin Glover do fine jobs as well.

In summary, an entertaining time travel comedy with some good jokes and an interesting plot. It doesn't really excel in any area, but it is good fun.

Rating : 7 / 10

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All content ©2003 William Marnoch.

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