User:Darkwarriorblake/Back to the Future

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Critical response[edit]

A photograph of Lea Thompson
A photograph of Crispin Glover
Lea Thompson in 2008 (left) and Crispin Glover in 2012. Critics praised the central cast, including Fox, Lloyd, Thompson, and Glover.

Back to the Future received generally positive reviews from critics.[1][2][3] Most reviewers agreed the film was almost the year's most entertaining, which offered a return to a focus on storytelling, despite Paul Attanasio considering some aspects to be "mechanically" designed to create the broadest audience appeal.[4][5] Attansio and Gene Siskel argued that while Back to the Future appeared to be "everything wrong" with youth-targeted films, it successfully subverted expectations by focusing on a relatable narrative with an emotional core, and irreverent, good-natured humor. They, alongside Richard Corliss, agreed that it would endure by offering something for children and adults.[6][7][5] Some reviews, such as Corliss and Leonard Maltin agreed that the exposition-heavy opening was Back to the Future's weakest part, but led into a stronger half filled with "wit", "wonder", "comic epiphany", and original ideas.[6][1][8]

Dave Kehr remarked that Gale and Zemeckis were among the first generation of filmmakers openly influenced by growing up on televised entertainment, and their inspirations are evident throughout. The Hollywood Reporter said that despite Spielberg's producer role, it was clearly Zemeckis' vision, being more subtle, gentler, and "less noisy."[9][10] Some reviewers compared it favorably to the 1946 fantasy drama It's a Wonderful Life, which offered a similar premise of a central character changing their future. Roger Ebert said the film offered humanity, charm, humor, and many surprises that were among it's "greatest pleasures".[8][10][11] The Hollywood Reporter's review described as the Oedipal version of It's a Wonderful Life.[10] Sheila Benson was more critical; she found Back to the Future to be overproduced and underdeveloped, featuring a hollow ending focused on materialistic rewards and lacking tension because Marty's success never seemed in doubt. Siskel countered that the tension came from defying the expectations of a typical time travel film by making the past mutable and the future uncertain.[12][7]

The cast performances were generally well received, particularly those of Fox, Lloyd, Thompson, and Glover.[13][5][10] Reviewers were consistent in their praise for Fox's "appealing" performance, although some believed Lloyd's performance outshone the rest.[1][10][7][5] Kehr and Attanasio considered his uncontrolled performance and unique "intensity" to be a tribute to mad scientist characters, portrayed by the likes of Sid Caesar and John Belushi, while creating the definitive scientist archetype for modern audiences.[10][5][9] In contrast, Vincent Canby and Variety's review said that Thompson's "deceptively passionate" performance and Glover's bumbling-to-confident character provided Back to the Future's standout performances.[13][8] Some reviewers considered the use of Libyan terrorists, an actual fear at the time, to be in poor taste.[10][12]

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