Parents' Guide to Back to the Future Part III

Somehow Robert Zemeckis, Fox, and Lloyd make the back-in-time gimmick work, and it's a pleasant surprise. After the mildly disappointing Part II, it would seem that a Wild West-themed threequel would flounder under the weight of too much time-travel confusion and overall Marty and Doc fatigue. The introduction of a love interest for Lloyd may not seem interesting to kid viewers, but as an adult viewing it through grown-up eyes, that subplot with Steenburgen is so much more appreciated. Doc was such a hermit outside of his connection with Marty, that it was a relief to see he could still have a chance at love -- especially with someone as patient and intelligent as Clara. So for the romantics at home, this installment is for you.

Humor-wise, there are plenty of in-jokes for those who've seen the first two films, like Marty's touchiness at being called "yellow." As Marty's rival, Wilson gets to unleash a whole new set of insults as he bullies everyone around him. A heavily accented Thompson returns as Marty's relative, and Fox does double duty again as his own great-great-great grandfather, but the McFly kin has less to do in this one than in the first two; the final film really belongs to Lloyd. One of the funniest moments is the saloon scene where Marty does the moonwalk when he's being shot at; it may take some explaining if your kids don't understand the significance of Michael J. Fox's signature dance move, but it's funny even two decades later. The entire trilogy is still a must-see for parents who want to share a little bit of their own youth with the next generation, even if the children won't laugh quite as hard as you do at some parts.