Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a typical American teenager of the 80s, is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a plutonium-powered DeLorean "time machine" invented by a slightly mad scientist, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Christopher Lloyd. During his often hysterical, always amazing trip back in time, Marty must make sure his teenage parents-to-be, George (Crispin Glover) and Lorraine (Lea Thompson) meet and fall in love because of an incident that Marty erred, so this task will allow him to be able to get back to the future.
Others to round out the cast are Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen, Claudia Wells as Jennifer Parker, Marc McClure as Dave McFly, Marty's brother, Wendie Jo Sperber as Linda McFly, Marty's sister, George DiCenzo as Sam Baines, Frances Lee McCain as Stella Baines, James Tolkan as Mr. Strickland, Billy Zane as Match, Harry Waters Jr. as Marvin Berry and Donald Fullilove as Goldie Wilson.
This was brilliantly and effortlessly directed by the consummate Robert Zemeckis (""I Wanna Hold Your Hand" '78, "Used Cars" '80, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" '88, "Death Becomes Her" '92, "Forrest Gump" '94, "Contact" '97, "Cast Away" 2000, "The Polar Express" '04, "Flight" '12, "The Walk" '15, "Allied" '16, "Pinocchio" '22, "Here" '24) plus many other films, TV movies, TV, shorts, videos and a music video. The connection between these actors playing these characters were effortless in how they depended on each other to covey to their audience that these people have known each other forever, and this is talented direction, and Zemeckis' direction has only improved through the subsequent years. Any film with his name on it, I will make a point in seeing. It was also written amazingly well by Zemeckis ( "1941" '79, "Trespass" '92, "A Christmas Carol" '09, "The Walk" '15, "Welcome to Marwen" '18, "Pinocchio" '22, "Here" '24) plus other films, TV movies, TV, shorts, videos and video games, and also written by Bob Gale ("I Wanna Hold Your Hand" '78, "1941" '79, "Used Cars" '80, "Trespass" '92, "Interstate 60" '02) plus other films, TV movies, TV, shorts, video games and videos. By their very resumes, these two writers are basically a team and that is definitely a plus since the connection is already there which makes for a more cohesive, concise and tight script which this film certainly exemplified. The visual effects by ILM (Industrial, Light & Magic) were seamless and surely added to the story at hand. And the different angle shots by cinematographer Dean Cundey were amazing.
If you've never seen this film on the big screen, you have to see this before it leaves the theater since seeing it on your TV wouldn't and doesn't do it justice at all. The iconic characters along with Huey Lewis' "The Power of Love" title song is a joy. I loved this film all over again! Grab the popcorn and enjoy this gem!
Out of 4 Stars: 4 Rated: PG 116mins.
