“Talk about deja vu!” —Marty McFly
Today’s quick review: Back to the Future Part II. Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) takes Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) to the future to save his family from a bad fate. But in doing so, Marty accidentally gives his nemesis Biff (Thomas F. Wilson) the chance to change the timeline, using his knowledge of the future to take over Hill Valley. Marty and Doc must travel back to 1955 to undo the damage, all without causing further paradoxes.
Back to the Future Part II is a sci-fi comedy adventure that picks up immediately after the events of the original movie. After a brief jaunt to 2015, Marty and Doc are left with another temporal crisis on their hands. Back to the Future Part II features the same flavor of light humor and adventure as the first one. However, a looser script and a goofier world make it a step down from the focus and precision of its predecessor.
Back to the Future Part II suffers from two key problems: an outlandish setting and a self-indulgent story. The movie opts for a comical vision of the future rather than a grounded one, focusing on cheap jokes and callbacks rather than the insightful contrasts seen in the first film. Meanwhile, the story relies too heavily on nostalgia for the first film. There are some new ideas mixed in, but parts of the story feel like a rehash.
Even with these faults, Back to the Future Part II is still a memorable and entertaining watch. Seeing Marty and Doc in action is always a joy, and their chemistry is as strong as ever. The future of 2015 is not nearly as grounded as it could have been, but it opens up some fun opportunities for action and humor. In general, Part II has the same charm as the original, just applied to wilder subject matter with less sense of proportion.
Back to the Future Part II is a solid pick if you enjoyed the first movie. Although it makes a few missteps along the way, its great cast, imaginative premise, and iconic moments make it well worth a watch. Approach with caution if you are hoping for more realistic speculation about the future. For a time travel romp in a similar vein, try Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. For an even sillier vision of the future, try Sleeper.
[7.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096874/). I give it a 7.5 for great characters and fun humor.