Back to the Future is, quite simply, one of the most charming films ever made. As well as its beautifully simple time travel plot and the brilliant retro feel of the 1950s segments, the journey of George McFly from luckless weed to successful novelist and husband is the most compelling feature of the movie. The film reaches its finale at the "Enchantment Under the Sea" dance, in which Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) must convince his parents to get together in order to save his own existence. As they would say in Doctor Who... wibbly wobbly, timey wimey. As Marty tries to encourage his parents to mingle, a spanner is placed in the works at the hands of dim-witted bully Biff Tannen. Biff has bullied George for his entire school career and has always coveted Lorraine, for whom George has an unrequited affection. George is a hugely sympathetic character, so the moment in which he finally stands up to Biff and punches him in the face before he can assault Lorraine is fantastic. By the time George has his moment, the audience really wants him to succeed. His eventual courtship of Lorraine is the perfect prize for standing up to his tormentor and the flash-forward shows that he continues to win in his battle with Biff later on in his life.
Freelance film journalist and fan of professional wrestling. Usually found in a darkened screening room looking for an aisle seat and telling people to put away their mobile phones. Also known to do a bit of stand-up comedy, so I'm used to the occasional heckle.
