MovieChat Forums > Back to the Future Part II (1989) Discussion > The first half is just too campy

The first half is just too campy


The tone is so over the top and the actors playing different ages of themselves (including Fox as his own daughter) is ridiculous. The film gets better once the almanac comes into the picture but I don’t know why they went for this campy vibe in the first half

reply

I didn't think the whole first half stank, but it did have a couple of super cringey moments. Like when Marty's daughter comes downstairs and calls out "Mom... is that you?" and cocks 'her' head in the weirdest, lamest way... ugh. I get second hand embarrassment just thinking about it.

reply

The Hill Valley town square stuff never gets old for me. The scenes at Marty´s house in Hilldale never really worked for me though, I completely agree with you about MJF looking stupid as his own daughter.

reply

Yeah there are some painful scenes in the first half. Pretty much everything that happens in 2015 is awful, especially Griff, Needles, Marty Jr, and George hanging upside down. I was amazed to discover that one of the kids playing the video game in the diner was Elijah Wood though!

reply

Yeah, not to mention the over-the-top, campy, comedic aspect of the first act didn’t really fit well with the rest of the movie.

That’s one of my main issues I have with BTTF Part II: the tonal inconsistency. It bounces from goofball comedy, to dark and serious (bordering on pretentious) Sci-Fi, to rehashing too much of the first movie’s third act - as if it doesn’t know what it wants to be.

At least the other two movies seemed more focused.

reply

okay they probably should have gotten Jennifer to play the daughter. But if she was brought 'home' and they made this movie using 80's technology, that could have been difficult. Now they can do all kinds of projections/holograms w computers no problem. But this was 1989. Different generation.

reply

My dad always said he thought the same actress that plays Jennifer should've played the daughter, but I didn't mind Michael J. Fox in the role. I think it's kind of funny.

I like all the camp, I think it's fun. I liked it a lot more when I was younger and can see the problems now. Like, if you compare the second to the first you see the way the first is just so great on it's own. Nothing can beat it. Still, the whole trilogy is so adventurous and so much better than the movies made today.

reply

Honestly I wasn't able to tell it was Fox until years later. The thing which does stick out right away and did as a kid is all the brand name placements throughout the movie. It shows you that these companies wanted a slice of quick cash. They suspected the movie was going to be a big hit. Yes they were right, we still watch it years later, but if Fox were a 'sleaze' in the movie and especially off camera, it would have been much different.

reply

I probably wouldn't have ever even known it was him if I hadn't read about it.

The name placement doesn't really bother me, I think it fits with the story. Still, it bothers me that companies are greedy and take advantage of movies they anticipate to be successful.

I actually used to like part ii better and I still love this movie, but I see a lot of the plot holes now.

reply

Since their prediction was right though, its not as bad as it could have been. Although the success has much more to do with Fox (again) than the products. Some of the brands ironically faced challenges despite their placement in a very successful movie.

And not because of the movie either, but other factors they never saw-- yes, in the future. Pizza Hut which had sit down restaurants when this movie came out had to go to all delivery and takeout. Their dine in model is now obsolete in America.

I didn't care for 3 at all when I was little, but I think I like it the best now. Marty connects with his past and learns something from his ancestors. Him and doc parting is far more emotional for me now that I've moved away from mentors/they've moved away from me geographically. I understand this much better.

reply

Nonsense. Part II is perfect. It’s Part III that feels like an afterthought.

reply

Personally I prefer part III over part II, but neither compares to the original.

reply

There was no need at all for 2 sequels, other than sheer greed. Never liked this series. Fox lacked moviestar gravitas. He was only a TV guy.

I know: the truth hurts your memories from when you were 8 years old.

reply

🤣

reply

ya part 2 is great. that it could be argued its just as good or nearly rivals #1 is impressive. a sequels never as good but this one is.

reply

Nonsense!! Part II is pretty much just a mess all the way through. Sure, it toys with some unique ideas, but mostly just relies on silly gimmicks and direct references to the original film to keep it afloat, rather than focus on characters and story.
The plot holes are abound and difficult to ignore. Then of course there's the depiction of the future (2015) in the first act, which over time has become less awe-inspiring (the obvious intention) and more outright ugly and garish. This part may come off as nit-picky, but it's really not helped that this vision of the future turned out to be a far cry from the 2015 we'd eventually get.
What also doesn't help is all the reused young actors caked in obvious makeup and ridiculous costumes to make themselves look older and more "futuristic."
Michael J. Fox playing Marty's future daughter was a terrible and cringeworthy decision, and Griff has to be one of THE MOST ANNOYING CHARACTERS EVER to be put onscreen.

As vitriolic as it may seem, I think people just let Part II off too easily over time because of it's direct attachment to such a classic.

Part III is a more completed movie with focus on both plot and characters. The only elements that are really rehashed from the original movie are being stuck in the past with the goal of getting back to the present (this time though, it's problems with the DeLorean's engine and getting up to speed instead of powering the Flux Capacitor), and the inclusion of an intimidating villain (Buford definitely makes up for Griff's shortcomings, and almost rivals Biff).
What sets it apart from the original is more than just it's Western setting: The first film is a romantic comedy, where's Part III is more a drama. It also focuses more on Doc than Marty this time, and shows that he's more than just an eccentric scientist - as he grows fond of the old west and finds love for the first time in Clara, he's conflicted whether he should what his heart says, or what his mind says.

reply

The 2nd is a bit dark but the 3rd is so great that it makes the trilogy awesome.

3 is so funny I LMAO every time I watch it.

reply

It would have been interesting if most of the movie was set in 1955 to create a sort of meta sequel since most sequels are known for being just a repeat of the first movie, this film could have played up how it is literally going back to the first movie. Then part 3 could be going back to 1955 yet again to avoid running into both Part 1 and Part 2 Marty

reply

The future scenes are the best part. It kinda tails off as it goes along.

reply