Cheerful movie magic

Rating: Null/10 (10 September 2019)

Back to the future was a massive hit and it is surely one of the most popular and famous sci-fi films ever made. The premise is simple but well executed, and with the character presence of Michael J Fox, director Robert Zemeckis made a crowd pleaser that is still recalled to this day. Back to the Future is played neither entirely seriously nor entirely for laughs, and therein lies the nature of its success. It's funny and breezy but doesn't descend to a level where the characters are little more than props for jokes. We believe in Marty, like him, and root for him to succeed. Part of the reason for that is Michael J. Fox. Back to the Future is unapologetically lighthearted and upbeat - a tonic for a weary movie-going society. Like Spielberg, Zemeckis has a keen understanding of how to blend diverse elements of comedy, action, adventure, and drama into concoctions that win over audiences. Marty's story could easily have been suspenseful, purely comedic, or a three-hankie melodrama, but Zemeckis found the balance and employed it.