Back To The Future Part 2 Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

BTTF Part 2

The first Back To The Future ended with a sequel-inviting cliffhanger but Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale insist that sequels were never part of the plan in 1985, that it was a joke. Zemeckis noted that if he HAD been setting up a sequel he'd have made sure that Marty's grilfriend (Claudia Wells in the original, Elisabeth Shue in the sequel) was not in the Delorean.

Part II takes us all over the space-time map. 1985, an alternate 1985, 2015, 1955 and while this variety certainly ensures that you are never bored it's also the essential problem with the film, it's trying to do too much.

This isn't to say that the film is not well executed. Kudos is particularly due Michael J Fox who plays not just Marty but his son, his daughter and a 47-year-old Marty. In one scene (whose effects still amaze 17 years on) all four of these characters share a meal. However the film introduces one trait to its main character, which, beyond being annoying, makes him a bit of a prat. Yes here Marty develops, suddenly, the amazing ability to lose any common sense when he's called 'chicken'. This device is overly simple but more than that it slightly betrays the character of the first film who, while no genius, was smarter than that.

Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson both return as well and, like Fox, are just as good second time around. Sadly Crispin Glover didn't come back and so George's role is much reduced with replacement Jeffrey Weissman reduced to doing a Glover impression in long shots.

The set pieces and effects remain spectacular and each time period works in and of itself but the pieces gel less well than in the first film.

Part II is at it's best in fact when it revisits the first film using the presence of another Marty and different circumstances to show us some events from the first film (like Marty 'inventing' rock n roll) from a new perspective and expanding on other events.

An expanded role for Biff lets Thomas F Wilson show some range as he plays 4 versions of the character as well as his grandson.

It is perhaps necessity that the ending is somewhat underwhelming and abrupt (this is after all the middle chapter) but this too is something of a disappointment, particularly when the first film gave a masterclass in cliffhangers.

Back To The Future Part II is by no means a bad film, it's just slightly less engaging than the first, but that's no crime and this is still a highly engaging and entertaining film.

Very Clever Film

Im still waiting for Hover boards to become reality!! Excellent film!