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    Back to the Future

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    Even if you’ve never seen “Back to the Future”, you’re probably familiar with many of its elements through parodies or cultural osmosis. The film’s memorable characters, combined with the clever storyline and 80’s release date have made it an internet darling, but even without the nostalgia, it’s simply a solidly constructed, consistently entertaining sci-fi adventure.

    Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is awesome, but his life sucks. Mom (Lea Thompson) is an alcoholic, Dad (Crispin Glover) is a pushover and his car has just been totaled through no fault of his own. Marty manages alright though. He’s got a hot girlfriend (Claudia Wells as Jennifer) and hangs out with eccentric inventor Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd), who shows his true brilliance by revealing that he’s built a time machine! Accidentally traveling to 1955 and mistakenly preventing his parents from first meeting, Marty must now make them fall in love before somehow finding a way back to the present.

    This is an extremely efficient, well-constructed picture. Though it may not seem so at first, there are no wasted scenes, characters, or bits of dialogue. Every detail introduced means something or will pay off in a later scene – if only in one. “Back to the Future” is like a great magician. It shows you something obvious in the foreground that’s important right now, but way over in the back there’s something else you don’t necessarily need to be paying attention to, but will mean something later. It’s a meticulous, polished story that’s a joy to see, and that’s without digging into the characters, the humor or the inventiveness of the plot.

    In most films, you’re lucky to have one or two memorable characters. In “Back to the Future”, every one is iconic. Marty, Doc, the bully Biff (Thomas F. Wilson), Mom, Dad all have at least one or two great scenes worth replaying in your head over and over. Much of this is due to the script, which plays with the idea that it’s hard for children to think of their parents as once being young. The casting should not be overlooked either. Everyone has been perfectly selected and the idea of having anyone else play Doc or Marty (although it nearly happened; Eric Stoltz was replaced only late into production) is unthinkable today.

    What makes "Back to the Future" universal is that it isn't really about time travel. I think most children worry about the possibility of their parents falling out of love, or of them being unsatisfied with their lives. This film takes that idea one step further. What if you had to orchestrate your parents' first kiss… or vanish from existence? “Back to the Future” is a film that will continue to endure because of its playfulness, its timeless humor, charming cast, genius concept and engaging story. (On Blu-ray, February 4, 2018)

    10
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    adamwatchesmovies@  5.2.2018 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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