Back to the Future has been, and probably always will be, the quintessential moment in Michael J. Fox's career. It was this film that catapulted him to international fame and many years of success in the film industry. The television series "Family Ties" is probably more important in Michael J. Fox's history overall, but it was Back to the Future that truly began his phenomenal success.

The plot of Back to the Future is pretty unique; Young Marty McFly (Fox) gets sent back to 1955, when his parents (Crispin Glover and Lea Tompson) were his age. Within hours of his arrival, he has met his father and disrupted the most important moment in his parent's romantic relationship. This leads to the ever-creepy result of Marty's mother 'having the hots' for him, her own son. With the help of his eccentric friend, Doctor Emmet Brown (Christopher Lloyd), Marty has a week to get his parents together to ensure his own survival and get himself 'back to the future.' (It is a catchy title, isn't it?)

Unlike many of today's movies, which rely way too much on flashy effects and over-hyped actors, Back to the Future was a success because it's core plot is not about saving the world, or stopping an evil menace so...well...evil, that mankind itself is in danger. This movie is simply about a young man trying to ensure the survival of what he holds most dear - himself and his best friend, Doc Brown. (He's a 17 year old. What did you really expect him to care about, his parent's relationship? Pshaw!) The time-travel stuff is fantastic and is in the realm of science fiction, but the true story is one that is quite realistic and believable.

Back to the Future was (and is) a film that appealed to a wide audience. Again, unlike today's films, this movie was not only targeted towards teen-agers, but to their parents. Teens could identify with Marty while older viewers could relive a time that they remembered, a time that produced great waves of nostalgia - the 1950's. The story was fast paced, fun, never got too serious but never delved into the realm of camp.

Michael J. Fox's performance is especially comendable due to the fact that during the filming of this movie, he was also rehearsing "Family Ties" during the day. His lack of sleep never shows and his performance is full of an energy that often causes Fox's performances to sparkle, even in some of his not-so-great movies.

Another character that will always be immortalized in film history is Doctor Emmet Brown, portrayed by Christopher Lloyd. Lloyd has a special knack for portraying off-beat, quirky personas and has brought classic characters to life such as Reverand Jim of "Taxi" and Judge Doom of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

The 'quirkiest' character in this film, though, is George McFly, portrayed by Crispin Glover, famous for his odd portrayals and maybe more famous for his sometimes odd behaviour. This film marked the third time that he worked with Michael J. Fox, the previous instances being an episode of "Family Ties" and the TV film "High School U.S.A."

Why to Watch This Movie: The movie is a high-quality, well-written, superbly-directed and flawlessly performed piece of cinematic history. Oh, and the story is loads of fun!

When to Watch This Movie: Anytime you're in the mood for a good comedy with some bits of flashy special effects thrown in.

--Brandi M. Mills

All original text © Copyright by Brandi M. Mills, 2006