Back to the Future Part III **** (1990, Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen) – Classic Movie Review 1935

For the final Back to the Future film of the trilogy in 1990, screenwriter Bob Gale comes up with the appealing idea to send Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) back to 1885. Marty has to travel back in time to the Wild West to save his mad scientist buddy Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) when he’s about to be killed by Buford ‘Mad Dog’ Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson).

This concept gives returning director Robert Zemeckis the opportunity for some simple but jovial fun spoofing Westerns, as well as giving mad scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) the chance for romance with a spunky frontier schoolmarm (Mary Steenburgen).

On the downsides, you could say that Mel Brooks did spoofing Westerns better with Blazing Saddles, or the Carry On crew with Carry On Cowboy. And you could say that teen audiences aren’t going to be all that interested in a wrinklies’ love story. And then again, you could say it is conceived as the final part of a trilogy, so Part III is not a stand-alone movie, as it relies heavily on knowledge of the original movies.

Yet, for all that, Back to the Future Part III is still a very good-natured and warm-hearted sci-fi fantasy comedy adventure. Once again the iconic performances are warm and amusing, the Bob Gale and Neil Canton production is exquisitely handsome and the visual effects are superb, especially for the movie’s big climax. It’s lovingly written by Gale and immaculately crafted by Zemeckis.

Lea Thompson (Maggie/Lorraine McFly), Elisabeth Shue (Jennifer Parker), James Tolkan (the Marshal), Matt Clark (the Bartender), Richard Dysart, Wendie Jo Sperber (Linda McFly), Marc McClure (Dave McFly), Jeffrey Weissman (George McFly) and Z Z Top also appear. It’s sweet that there’s a little space for Western old time character actors Harry Carey Jr, Pat Buttram and Dub Taylor to play saloon old timers.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1935

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com/