almost a spoof, but an outstanding joy and return to form

Rating: 8/10 (17 October 2005)

SPOILERS Somebody wanted a laugh. Well, surely. After the wonderful original film, and an awkward second part which preached of a fashion victim future, Michael J Fox or somebody else must have politely suggested to Robert Zemeckis that they wanted to strap on a gun belt and shout ye ha.
Filmed back to back with "Back to the Future Part II", this concluding adventure for Marty McFly (Fox) and Doctor Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) finds them back in the old West, and feels good. Much more mature in colour than it's predecessors (strange considering the linkage), it is strong family entertainment which never takes itself too seriously. Almost a spoof of the characters Zemeckis had worked hard to create, it never attempts anything other than to make you smile. It might not be as classic as the first film, but this third concluding part of the trilogy is magnificent fun.
Trapped in 1955 after the events of the previous film, Marty McFly (Fox) is staying with the Doc Brown (Lloyd) of that period. When they discover an unfortunate event has befallen the Brown of the future who is now living in the past (confused yet?), McFly knows he must once more travels further back in time to save his close friend.
A more laid back conclusion when compared to previous films, this final adventure for Marty and the Doc is wonderful. Entertaining from the outset, it thrives on placing 1980s residents in the old West. A clash in culture, the one surprise is that this notion hasn't been recreated by reality television gurus.
Once more cleverly written, there is a strong abundance of jokes previously missing from the series, and Michael J Fox is also more than willing to dress himself up in multiple roles, this time playing Marty's Irish Immigrant ancestor Seamus. Hamming up the Irish accent, Fox demonstrates that whilst he's out for a laugh, he can still act his socks off when he wants to.
Christopher Lloyd too demonstrates an improved skill as he draws on his comic talents from "Taxi" to turn the Doc even more eccentric. Unlike the spread from previous films, this time the joy of the film is watching these two actors play off against each other.
The "Back to the Future" series completes itself with the same success with which it began. Radically different films, Parts I and III are both entertaining and great to watch. More laid back than the previous two outings, this third and final part thrives on the simple fact that everybody is out to spoof themselves and to have a good time. That good time is shown in the work itself and as a result it's easy to love this film. Brilliant from start to finish, and a worthy conclusion to a superb trilogy.