The Screen Scribe

Back to the Future is one of those rare movies that you can watch over and over and never get bored. At least for me it is. One of my personal favourite films of all time, Back to the Future was well received upon initial release, with praise for the humour, plot and performances. Replacing the miscast Eric Stoltz (and actually being the initial first choice), the time travelling escapade launched the career of Michael J. Fox as the go-to actor for light comedy in the late 80s. The film has grown in stature in the intervening decades and is now considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. And rightfully so. Despite being a light-hearted summer comedy, Back to the Future explored interesting thematic material such as control of one’s own fate, parental relationships, racism and fears of unfulfilled potential.

In Back to the Future, teenager and aspiring rockstar Marty McFly is accidentally sent back to 1955 by his friend and inventor Doc Brown, who has converted a DeLorean into a time machine. Marty quickly realizes he’s in trouble because he’s inadvertently interfered with the courtship of his parents, potentially erasing his own existence. He must navigate the 1950s and ensure his parents fall in love to ensure his own future. 

Now I know that’s a fairly brief summary but if you haven’t seen this film then I don’t want to spoil the experience of watching it for the first time. It’s one of those rare examples of time-travel storytelling done right, with a plot that is tight, clever, and full of satisfying setups and payoffs. Those with eagle eyes will see the brilliant foreshadowing come full circle and have their own “Great Scott!” moments. It handles paradoxes, causality, and alternate timelines in a way that’s fun, engaging, and surprisingly logical (at least within its own rules). The characters are now iconic, with Marty McFly as the perfect ’80s teen hero – cool, funny, and relatable, while Doc Brown is a wild, lovable genius absolutely brimming with energy and Biff Tannen is the classic movie bully you love to hate. Like most of the popular 80s movies before and after it, Back to the Future riffs on pop culture and is chock full of absolute bangers (see Huey Lewis and the News!) while Alan Silvestri delivers an iconic score in Williamsesque fashion that rivals even the greatest theme tunes of the Hollywood maestro. The DeLorean was immortalised by this summer blockbuster as a legendary car that gets me giddy even today when I see one. But at its core this film is full of heart and life lessons, taking you on an unforgettable adventure through history and when it gets up to the now fabled 88 miles per hour, it never lets up!

Back to the Future is a timeless classic. You see what I did there? I know. I have no shame. This film is a perfect and fun watch for the family and full of potential for countless rewatches as well as its brilliant sequels. And one thing to remember when sitting down to watch Doc and Marty’s adventures…where you’re going, you don’t needs roads!