Back to the Future Part II (PG, 1989)

common sense media says

Amusing futuristic sequel more dated, edgier than original.


parents & educators say
  • 56% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the second installment in this hit time-travel trilogy is slightly more "PG-13" than "PG." You'll find more language (including "s--t" and "a--hole"), sexual references (including jokes about breast implants and allusions to adultery and threesomes), and negative role models (the plot includes a lot of Biff in all three time periods) than in the first movie, so it may be an iffy pick for early-elementary-aged kids. But for mature 9-year-olds and up -- or kids who've already enjoyed the original -- the visuals about the movie's "future" and the physical comedy will entertain, even if the time-travel twists can get confusing.

Positive messages: One of the movie's pervasive messages is that if you could change any one thing, it should obviously be to make yourself rich. That said, Marty's time travel demonstrates the importance of family (whereas Biff's desire for time travel is rooted solely in greed and materialism). The movie also has a strong theme about not letting what other people think of you bother you.
Positive role models: Marty and Doc Brown are once again brave and selfless protagonists trying to undo the wrongs of time travel. Biff, on the other hand, only cares about making money and terrorizing and one-upping everyone he knows, especially the McFly family.
Violence: A character is seen shot by terrorists but escapes injury. A bully makes several threats. Some dark/ominous imagery.
Sex: More sexual innuendo than in the original. In addition to a couple of quick kisses between Marty and his girlfriend, there are references to breast implants and size, infidelity and unwanted advances. In one
scene, a married male character is shown with his arms draped around two swimsuit-clad groupies in a hot tub.
Language: Words not usually associated with PG movies are used a few times, including "s--t," "bitch," and "a--hole." Other language includes "hell," "stupid," "suckers," "butthead," and "loser."
Consumerism: Product placements include Nike, Pepsi, Texaco, Black & Decker, and AT&T, all of which are sort of poked fun at, since the movie is set in the once-distant future. And, of course, there's the famous DeLorean.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Marty's mother obviously likes to drink, and references are made to her possibly being a "drunk." Biff is shown with a drink in his hand.

More on Back to the Future Part II

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how this movie compares to the original Back to the Future. How is Marty's family dilemma different in 2015 than it was in 1955? What are some differences between the original and the sequel? Which one do you like better, and why?
  • What makes Biff such an unredeemed, unapologetic nemesis? How are his motives for time travel back to the '50s different than Marty and Doc's?
  • The "future" is set in 2015, a year that's not so futuristic now. How does real life compare to the future depicted in the 1980s?
  • Did all of the time travel make sense, or was it to difficult to follow? What are some other time travel-themed movies that explore similar themes of trying to right past wrongs?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In this sequel to Robert Zemeckis' wildly popular blockbuster Back to the Future, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) once again time travels -- this time not because he's fleeing terrorists but because Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) implores him to go to the future. Marty brings his girlfriend, Jennifer (Elisabeth Shue) along, and the three of them travel via DeLorean to the year 2015 in order to save Marty's future son, Marty Jr. (also Fox), from danger. During their time in 2015, aged bully Biff Tannen (Thomas S. Wilson) figures out that Marty and Doc have traveled from the past and decides to go back with a sports almanac to 1955 give his younger self an easy way to become rich by betting on winners. That change in the space-time continuum causes all sorts of devastating changes for Marty's present (1985), so he and Doc head all the way back to the '50s to stop Biff.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

As with The Matrix, a few critics regard the Back to the Future trilogy as one milestone original and two less-memorable sequels -- particularly this one. But there's still plenty of nostalgia value and amusement at the expense of the once distant, now all-too-imaginable future depicted here. Still, though Fox and Lloyd continue to be a winning comedic combination, there are downsides to this installment that make it less exciting than the original. The plot's overdependence on the annoying Biff character; the replacement of Crispin Glover, who so deftly played Marty's meek father George McFly; the fact that Fox and Wilson have to play more than one person; and the simple lack of novelty with the time-travel concept are but a few of the reasons this sequel is
fun but not fantastic.

Parents who grew up in the '80s may be surprised at how dated BACK TO THE FUTURE II feels, even though it was obviously made after the original, which still holds up after 25 years. It will remain, however, one of those movies that Generation Xers gravitate to and introduce to their kids. Children will get a kick out of the fact that the future imagined by Zemeckis involves shimmery metallic outfits and hover-boards for the general population. Maybe in another 25 years...

Movie themes & details

Themes
Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Michael J. Fox
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 108 minutes
Theatrical release: November 22, 1989
DVD release: January 25, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG

This review was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
 
 

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What parents & educators say

10
Based on 9 parent & educator reviews:
  • 56% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

Tsion
parent of 15 year old
 
Good Acting, Good Script, Worthy Sequel.
BACK TO THE FUTURE is a classic. I can't say as much for the second installment in the trilogy, BACK TO THE FUTURE PART 2, but it's a pretty darn good sequel. The tone in this one is darker than in the first, but the content level is pretty much the same. Langauge is, like the other one, constant, and there's a moderate amount of sex too. The married villian is shown in a bathtub with two assumably naked women (nothing but shoudlers are seen, as there are bubbles in the bath). The main characters mother, unhappily married to the villian, gestures at her breasts and says "You were the one who wanted me to get these THINGS!" Violence is mild, with a few kicks and punches. This film is worth watching if you're determined to see the entire trilogy or are a big fan of the original. The 1955 sequences from the first one, viewed at a new angle, blow your mind. The biginning 2015 sequence is a bit cheesy, but a brilliant cliffhanger patches it all up well. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd were made to be in this movie together, and are brilliant onscreen. Worth watching.

cheese-process
teen, 15 years old
 
Great movie, but the common sense rating was way off.
I thought this movie was great, but the common sense rating was way off. There was lots of language, violence, (including beating), and a couple of references to rape. The grown-up version of Bif forces his wife to wear a sexy dress and then verbally abuses her. He is seen later in a hot tub with two naked women. I just thought I'd mention that, since the common sense people didn't.

Joe Marranca
teen, 14 years old
 
Pefect for tweens and up
It fine not as good as the first movie but the Inventor is not shot in Part 2 its Part 1.Also it is a confusion story plot and is sometime is very dark like where the Bully is threating to shoot the Teen Character.Referance to weapons and naked women in a hot tub .Also the Teen character does a bad thing in 2015 witch makes an alternate 1985 witch the bully rules the town nuclear waste everywhere biker gangs and and the clocktower has been turned into a casino where Biff lives.Overall okay 11+

movieman4
kid, 12 years old
 
Violence (PG): Punches are thrown, a gun is shown, a charecter killed. Sexual Content (PG): Two naked ladies are in a hot tub with Biff, Biff smoochs Lorraine for a full minute. Language (PG): Same as the first movie.

Ezio432
teen, 15 years old
 
IFFY FOR 11 AND UP
This movie is much better than the first movie, and is even better than the third, and I can't believe CSM reviewed this 3 stars. They go to the FUTURE for gosh sake! Well the content is worse too. B word, a word, s word. Reference to breast implants, and shows breast implant cleavage.

captionerlady
parent of 11 year old
 
Didn't like the language
Common sense rated this 8, and usually I trust their numbers. There is a lot of swearing in this movie, so much so that we didn't even finish it.

nbfi2001
parent
 
the "B" word used extreme

 
Whoa! I'm glad they made the third one even though this was so bad. Not only was it an insult to the trilogy, but it was much more inappropriate than the other two. I wouldn't even watch it with kids <12.

Justino4
teen, 14 years old
 
In My Opinion
I personally liked this one the most out of the three. It had a more frantic feel to it and the climax was stronger in my opinion.

simpo
kid, 8 years old
 
very bad
I DO not not think it is good it is very bad

dramaqueen@hot ...
parent of 11 year old
 
not bad
cool movie just as good as the 1st one but i rather the orginal one yet this one was still pretty good

Indiana Jones Man
kid, 10 years old
 
Awesome, Amazing stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mewat1999
kid, 12 years old
 
Perfect for Tweens!!!!
Awesome!!!

TaterTot123
kid, 11 years old
 
Lotsa Swearing
How much this has gone from the breezy, funny Back to the Future l (which made it on my favorites list) to this is one HUGE step! There is swearing and it disrespects women. There is also many VERY low-cut dresses showing major cleavage. There is also some fights and chases. Not as good as the first one. And where's Doc? He's not in there as much!

pizza31
adult
 
Biff is in there a lot but it's a good movie.
Biff calls his son a son of a bi*ch which means he thinks his wife is a bi*ch.

pepsicola14
teen, 13 years old
 
People say "there were so many swear words we diddn't finish it". Really? I'm sorry, but thats really sad. Swear words never bothered me. But the sexual stuff was very mild, and showen in a negitive light. And some people just need to take a chill pill and keep their pants on. As long as the younger ones know what not to say, your fine. nothing worse then the "B"word, same as the first.

@@@
parent
 
Still a great film.
Still an excellent film, although it doesn't really measure up to the original. Screw you, "WhatdoIthink." You have no taste in films. This was NOT an insult to the series, it's one of my top fifteen films of all time.

Jensen111
kid, 11 years old
 
Back to the Future: Part 2
Many References to Cosmetic Surgery. But it was stiil family friendly.

KinbJune
teen, 13 years old
 
Back to the Confusing Pt 1
This was a very confusing movie for me and my father. Even if you don't think about it, it's still confusing. I just wanted this to end because it was too hard to follow. I suggest watching the frist part before watching this to get everything.

jcpilot
parent of 10 and 13 year old
 
The language is the only downfall to the movie. Many S words.

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