Though having a cliffhanger ending, director Robert Zemeckis never thought a sequel to Back to the Future would happen. However, upon its July 3rd, 1985 release, the film grossed over $381 million worldwide and was the year’s highest-grossing film. Combined with the overwhelming praise from critics, Universal immediately wanted a sequel, so Zemeckis agreed, but only on one condition. He’d only do it if Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd would return, which thankfully they both agreed to return. However, making the sequel had its own problems, namely when it came to getting the rest of the original cast. While they got both Lea Thompson and Thomas F. Wilson came back, Crispin Glover and Claudia Wells wouldn’t return. After finishing 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Zemeckis and company set off to make a sequel worthy of the original. So, in 1989, Back to the Future Part II was finally released.
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Synopsis
Continuing from before, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and Jennifer Parker (Elisabeth Shue) travel to 2015. They arrive to straighten things out with Marty’s son when they unwittingly meet old man Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson). Unfortunately, Biff ends up stealing the Delorean and uses it to travel back in time to change his fate. Marty, Doc, and Jennifer return to 1985 only to find it in a chaotic state where Biff is in charge. Turns out old Biff gave young Biff a Sports Almanac Marty bought in 2015 so he could get rich. After leaving Jennifer back in 1985, Marty and Doc travel back to 1955 to retrieve and destroy the almanac. At the same time, they must make sure that what they did in the first film isn’t undone. It’s a race against time to make sure the timelines are restored.
Review
Making a worthwhile sequel to such a monumental film as Back to the Future was never going to be easy. Thankfully, while it’s not quite as good, Back to the Future Part II still succeeds at building on the original. Once again, Fox and Lloyd work well as a duo, trading back-and-forths and matching each other’s energy fairly well. Lea Thompson is given much more to do since we get both 1955 Lorraine and an alternate 1985 Lorraine. The latter is shown to be a sad wreck with plastic surgery who’s an alcoholic that’s been beaten into submission. However, Thomas F. Wilson steals the show playing 2015 Biff, alternate 1985 Biff, 1955 Biff, and even Biff’s grandson Griff. This film does an amazing job taking a stock bully character and making him a force to be reckoned with. Even George “Buck” Flower makes another appearance.
Unfortunately, the recasting is pretty obvious right from the beginning when you see Elisabeth Shue instead of Claudia Wells. Shue isn’t terrible, but it’s distracting, though not as much as the lengths they went to barely show Crispin Glover. In addition to having actor Jeffrey Weissman standing in, they also use strategically-placed close-ups that show Thompson but not Glover. Also, there are story elements added that make no sense, namely how Marty is triggered when someone calls him “chicken”. This was never established or alluded to in the first film, so it feels forced and out-of-place here. On a more positive note, the technology they created to show multiple versions of one actor at once is impressive. Plus, the film asks questions about how time travel should be used and how one tiny thing can change everything. Overall, Back to the Future Part II is an enjoyable if flawed follow-up.
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