Netflix Movie of the Day: Back To The Future Is Still a Brilliant Look Back to the Past
Here’s something scary: the time between today and the release of Back to the Future in 1985 is longer than the time it took Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) to return to the small American town of the 1950s.
Back to the Future is without a doubt the ultimate American blockbuster, a mix of comedy and adventure with a healthy dose of nostalgia – although not everyone liked the latter aspect; legendary critic Pauline Kael criticized the film’s “arbitrary complicity in the ongoing glorification of the ’50s.” She had a point, but the film remains beloved for its central storyline and a winning performance from Fox, one of America’s favorite actors. While there have been sequels, the original is by far the best in the series, which is why we consider it one of the best Netflix movies.
Why Back to the Future is Worth Going Back to the Future
The film is probably darker than you remember: I know that when I watched it recently with my kids, I was surprised by the disappointment of the older characters and the contrast with their younger, more optimistic selves. As the Washington Post said it this way: “Despite all the comedy, Back to the Future is about a child who learns to deal with the shortcomings of his parents. It is a moment that everyone recognizes and that forms a turning point in growing up.”
But you don’t have to be a fan of existential despair or parental disillusionment to enjoy rewatching this film. As the Austin American-Statesman put it at the time, it was “the first unadulterated pleasure of the summer. Back to the Future is a film that makes you relax and sit comfortably in your chair, full of humor, boundless energy and an undiminished good heart”.
“Back to the Future has an irresistible playfulness,” said The Age. And the Village Voice found echoes of two other American classics. “This sci-fi mix of American graffiti And It’s a beautiful life is the kind of film that, no matter how you try to avoid it, you still absorb through osmosis.”
It is “superbly composed, an absolute classic… an imaginative story full of heart and humor,” the BBCwhile Time-out said in retrospect that it was “just as stylish, smart and heartwarming as it was 30 years ago.” “Just sign up for the trip,” advises People Magazine“Back to the Future offers the most dazzling ride of the summer.”
