Anthony Bergamini
No film series is as timeless as the one that presupposes time can be traversed in such an awesome fashion—as a classic, gull-winged DeLorean. Yes, that means today we’re talking about the greatest time travel films of all time: the Back to the Future trilogy.
For those who have either not seen or not heard of this trilogy—shame on you. But either way, let’s do a quick recap of what these films are about. Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a teenage boy who just wants to spend some quality time with his girlfriend. His life gets flipped upside down after he assists his elderly friend and scientist, Dr. Emmett Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, with an experiment involving a tricked-out DeLorean. When the experiment goes awry due to Dr. Brown’s less-than-altruistic methods of acquiring the necessary materials, Marty ends up traveling back in time to 1955 and must find a way to return home despite the era’s inferior technology.
One of the most revolutionary aspects of this series is how it takes the outlandish idea of time travel and makes it fun and palatable by presenting it within an adventure/comedy framework. The film rarely feels like it’s leaning too heavily into the science fiction genre, despite being entirely centered on the concept of time travel and its effects on the characters’ journeys. This is mainly due to how writer/director Robert Zemeckis approaches the subject matter—often using humor to ensure that scenes discussing time travel aren’t weighed down by exposition. Instead, these scenes remain character-focused, helping the audience understand who Marty and Dr. Brown are as people.
A good example of this is the first time Marty interacts with a younger Dr. Brown in 1955. The scene involves a ton of exposition, but it’s delivered with comedic energy as Dr. Brown stumbles around trying to comprehend what Marty is telling him about coming from the future. What could have been a dull, technical explanation of how time travel works becomes highly entertaining.
The most memorable aspect of the trilogy is its characters, specifically Marty and Dr. Brown. Their individual journeys, and more importantly their relationship, are what make the story so compelling. A lot of credit goes to the actors, with Fox and Lloyd portraying these characters in a way that makes them timeless. For example, Fox does an excellent job capturing the perspective of an anxious teenager who just wants some time alone with his girlfriend. At no point does it feel like an actor portraying a teenage boy, Fox truly embodies the character. Similarly, Lloyd dials Dr. Brown’s eccentricity up to eleven, creating an unforgettable image of a wild-eyed scientist. A great example of this is when Dr. Brown explains his plan to get Marty back to the future and looks nearly into the camera as he recites the film’s title. It borders on breaking the fourth wall but ultimately feels like a natural extension of Dr. Brown’s over-the-top personality. Lloyd keeps his performance consistently heightened, never losing grip on the essence of his character.
It’s almost impossible to talk about this film without referencing its music. Before his days composing for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Alan Silvestri created one of the most memorable scores of all time with his work on Back to the Future. Like many films from the 1980s, the heart of the soundtrack revolves around a central theme that has become synonymous with the film. It’s a shame that modern films have largely moved away from using memorable, recurring themes. Silvestri has proven the effectiveness of this approach—just look at how recognizable his Avengers theme has become.
But it’s not only the score that makes the music stand out. Another key musical element is the inclusion of Huey Lewis and the News’s “Power of Love” and “Back in Time,” both written specifically for the film. Interestingly, the band was initially hesitant to get involved, fearing they would be forced to write lyrics based solely on the film’s content. Fortunately, Zemeckis gave them creative freedom, allowing them to write songs with their own themes. This is why “Power of Love” fits the film’s tone but doesn’t contain any specific references to its plot. This unique collaboration between musicians and filmmakers resulted in one of the best film soundtracks of all time.
