It’s four decades since Michael J Fox travelled back in time to 1955. How does the 1985 blockbuster measure up in 2025? Great Scott! it’s still good, says Molly Lee
Back to the Future is ultimately a time capsule – a feeling of 80s nostalgia will hit you like a DeLorean at 88mph.
Whether you were a little child when the movie came out in 1985, or not even a thought in your dad’s mind, there will be something for you to enjoy.
Ironically, the film narrowly avoided a catastrophe of its own. That catastrophe was Eric Stoltz’s portrayal of the confident, resourceful and electric protagonist Marty McFly. Director Robert Zemekis was unhappy. Stoltz drained all the likeable qualities of the character. He had to go. Even though most of the film was shot, he needed to be replaced.
Although the average viewer wouldn’t know that the iconic first instalment of the Back to the Future franchise was pieced together out of fragments like a stain glassed window, this film is like a sacred holy artefact with Michael J Fox at the centre.
The film follows a witty, 17-year-old high school student Marty McFly (Fox) who is best friends with crazy scientist, Dr Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown (Christopher Lloyd). With his cartoonish wide eyes, Doc proudly shows off his time machine in the form of DeLorean like a kid showing their drawing. Marty soon finds himself travelling back in time to 1955, to just before his parents meet. After messing with the space time continuum (just like in every other time travel film), he must fix his mistakes, reuniting his parents before his family is erased entirely.
As soon as the DeLorean speeds across a shopping centre car park, with Doc’s furry companion, Einstein, in the front seat, you are buckled in for a wild ride. The far-from-outdated special effects matched with the renowned soundtrack will bring a smile to your face. All the performances by the actors are incredible. Lea Thompson as Marty’s mum, Lorraine, is intoxicatingly joyful and obsessed with Marty – if it was an animation, her eyes would be popping out of her sockets with hearts for pupils. It was amusing to watch her unleash her secret wild side – you go girl!
Crispin Glover is perfect as clueless, gullible teenager George McFly, who just floats around like a fly buzzing headfirst at a window. His interactions with Thomas F. Wilson’s Biff Tannen are just sad. The entitled, arrogant bully pushes George over constantly. Just like other sci-fi films based on time travel, your mind does boggle. But just take it as it is. It’s one of those mindless comedic movies that you can immerse yourself in thanks to the impeccable set design, soundtrack and costumes.
Forty years later, the film stands the test of time. It’s a multi-generational masterpiece that will no doubt be shown for many more years to come because ‘great Scott!’ it’s good.
