Back To The Future Part II (1989)
Getting back was only the beginning
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson, Elisabeth Shue, James Tolkan, Jeffrey Weissman, Casey Siemaszko, Billy Zane, J.J. Cohen, Charles Fleischer, E. Casanova Evans, Donald Fullilove, Jay Koch, Charles Gherardi
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Running Time: 108 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: PG
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
On DVD Great Scott! Marty and the Doc are back! Well, forward. And - urm - back as well. It's a good job this is a PG, otherwise I might be on the verge of getting a tad confused.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd return as the Hill Valley time-travellers who can't help but get themselves into a muddle whenever that DeLorean of theirs flips open its ridiculously-impractical doors. Kicking off exactly where the 1985 pre-cursor closed, the pair of them speed off to the year 2015 to save Marty's future-offspring from a spell in the slammer and, much to the good doctor's disgust, do a bit of shopping.
As it happens, it's the shopping part that lands them in the real soapy bubble. That's predominantly because Marty's purchase of a book of sports stats winds up in the hands of bad-boy-turned-codger Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) who, in turn, nicks the time machine and heads back to 1955 to give the book to his younger self as a pressie. One mammoth gambling spree later and young Biff's a ruthless millionaire tycoon who can't be stopped from wreaking havoc on all and sundry. Or can he?
This is certainly the cleverest and most inventive chapter of the epic 'Back to the Future' trilogy and, even more impressively, is every bit as funny and entertaining as the original.
What really stands out is the inter-twining between this and the first flick, with much of the second half of the movie focussing on Marty and the Doc scurrying around putting things right in 1955 whilst all the while dodging their other selves from last time around. It's incredibly well put together, and for that alone deserves huge plaudits. The added bonus, though, is the sharp script, chemistry between the actors and fantastically engaging storyline.
DVD Extras: Back to the Future Part II' is only available on DVD as part of the entire 'Back to the Future Trilogy' box-set, disc 2 of which includes: behind the scenes featurette, 'Making the Trilogy' Chapter 2, out-takes and deleted scenes, hover board test on-location, production archives, storyboards and theatrical trailer.
It's Got: Thomas F. Wilson, unfortunately rarely seen these days, but once again on brilliantly-wicked form as Biff, the multi-generational school bully.
It Needs: To be watched along with Part III - otherwise you'll never know how the adventure finishes.
Alternatives: Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part III, The Time Machine, Inner Space
Summary: Easily one of the best movie sequels ever made.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 17th July 2003
External Links
Back To The Future Part II at the IMDB
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