The Film That Defies The Word "Genre"

Rating: 10/10 (12 March 2017)

When you head to your local video rental store, or browse the selection online with a site like Netflix, the titles are usually arranged according to genre, such as drama, action, comedy, romance, etc. However, when it comes to Back To The Future, truly one of the classic films of our generation, a copy would need to be put in almost every category, as it is the only film I have seen to date that defies the very notion of genre.
The basic story revolves around young 1980s kid Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) whose friendship with mad scientist "Doc" Brown (Christopher Lloyd) ends up with Marty in a time machine (made out of a Delorean, as if any more humor was needed!) whisked away to the year 1955, where he skewers the timeline and must make sure that his parents meet (and procreate sometime down the line, if you will) and fall in love once again.
Yet, that "simple" plot contains so, so much more in terms of just overall entertainment. It is hilarious ("Why don't you make like a tree...and get out of here"), romantic (the George-Lorraine plot thread), dramatic (will Marty make it back home?), and full of enough action and adventure to rival a Stallone or Schwarzenegger flick!
The acting is also some of the best that cinema has to offer. While Fox and Lloyd play the primary leads, the acting trio of Lea Thompson (playing Lorraine Baines), Crispin Glover (George McFly), and Thomas F. Wilson (Biff Tannen) almost steal the entire show on certain occasions with their various personalities. Even the "bit players" are superb in their short, yet very important/meaningful appearances.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this entire film experience, though, is the detail put into each and every scene. One must pay close attention to every single detail (no matter how seemingly small) of every single scene in the 1980s-portion of the film in order to better understand the jokes and sight gags of the 1950s-era time frame. I have probably watched this entire film all the way through at least a dozen times, yet on each viewing I find something new that I seemed to have missed.
Thus, on my list of "greatest movies of all-time", this effort is without a doubt in the top five for its ability to suck a viewer in on all levels. Watch with confidence knowing there will never be a dull moment!