With the recent release of “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” the popular actor, who has been battling Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis at the age of 29, has recently been making rounds on the interview circuit. Since his career was sadly cut short by the condition, his heyday invariably emerges: the breakout role in “Family Ties,” for which he won three Emmys; a series of hit comedy movies like “Teen Wolf,” “The Secret to My Success” and, of course, the movies he will always be remembered for, the “Back to the Future” trilogy.
When it comes to the question of rebooting the original film, which was one of the biggest hits of the ’80s, Fox is blunt, telling Variety: “I’m not a fan… Do what you want. It’s your movie. I already got paid.” That might seem like a blunt attitude from the man who gave us the film’s perky teenage lead, who just wanted to play guitar, skateboard and hang out with his girlfriend. But he has his motives beyond already cashing the check:
“I do not think that it’s necessary [rebooted]…I think Bob [Zemeckis, director] and bob [Gale, screenwriter] they have been very smart about it. I don’t think I need to reboot because you are going to clarify something? Will you find a better way to tell the story? I doubt it.”
It has a strong point. Like “Jaws,” “Back to the Future” is an almost perfect movie. Every time I watch it, I try to find a line that could be skipped or a scene that could be made shorter or cut entirely, and I’m always missing it. The two sequels aren’t quite as flawless, but taken together, they make up one of the best trilogies ever made.
