I Will Face My Fears for You: Back to the Future (1985)

Most Romantic Moment #3

Back to the Future (1985)

So you all know how much I love this film. It is like my supreme favorite.

So Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is a handsome (of course), musical, high schooler. He has befriended the local scientist, Doc Brown. Doc Brown has an idea for time travel in a Delorean, that he can’t wait to test out, bringing Marty with him.

But it turns out that Doc Brown cheated some terrorists out of their bomb fixing and they come after him and kill him, Marty jumping in the car and taking off.

He goes back in time and ends up running into his dad:

And into his mom, accidentally breaking them up. And causing him and his brother and sister to cease to exist.

Now he has to get them back together, survive 1955, try not to change too many things, and find a way to save Doc Brown.

Most Romantic Moment: I Will Face My Fear for You

So the moment I am going to choose is when George McFly punches Biff out to save Lorainne.

Now the reason I find it romantic is not because he’s punches Biff out to save Lorainne, is because he choose to do that to save Lorainne. He made a choice to stand up against Biff even though he was scared spitless. Confusing? Let me stop and backtrack.

So Marty has been trying to get his parents back together but his dad just hasn’t been on board. He likes Lorraine, but he isn’t about to try and cross Biff, who also likes her, or make another move.

“George McFly: Look, I’m just not ready to ask Lorraine out to the dance, and not you, or anybody else on this planet is gonna make me change my mind.”

In fact Marty had to pretend to be an alien in order to get him to fall in line.

“George McFly: [on the day after the evening Marty disguises himself as an alien and makes a threatening visit to George] Marty! Marty! Marty!

Marty McFly: Hey, George, buddy, you weren’t at school. What have you been doing all day?

George McFly: I overslept. Look, I need your help. I have to ask Lorraine out but I don’t know how to do it.

Marty McFly: Alright, okay, listen, keep your pants on. She’s over in the cafe.

[George heads for the cafe, Marty races after him]

Marty McFly: What made you change your mind, George?

George McFly: [loud enough for a couple walking by to hear] Last night, Darth Vader came down from Planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn’t take Lorraine, that he’d melt my brain!”

Then the only reason he agrees to do the plan is because of what Marty comes up with.

Marty McFly: Let’s go over the plan again, so eight-thirty where are you going to be?

George McFly: I’m gonna be at the dance.

Marty McFly: And where am I gonna be?

George McFly: You’re going to be in the car with her…

Marty McFly: Right, so right around nine o’clock she’s going to get very angry with me.

George McFly: Why would she get angry with you?

Marty McFly: [reluctantly] Because, George, nice girls get angry when guys take advantage of them.

George McFly: [Realizing] Ho! Hooo! You-you mean you’re going to go touch her on her –[gestures at a bra in his hand]

Marty McFly: No, no, no listen, George it’s just an act! Okay? So around nine o’clock you’re walking through the parking lot, you see us… struggling in the car. You walk up, you open the door and you say [pause]… your line, George!

George McFly: Oh! “Hey you! Get your d*** hands off her! [pause] You really think I ought to swear?”

There was no risk involved, nothing to really hurt George or go wrong as this was all a silly plan put on by the two guys. But then when he gets there and finds BIFF, the man he is most fearful of in his life, the man who scares him spitless, the man he has never, ever stood up to or said no to. But because he cares about Lorainne, he decides to take a chance. Take a chance not only against the giant bully, but a DRUNK bully. Risking his life for Lorainne and to do the right thing. That’s romantic.

Aw!

To start Romance is in the Air: Part V, go to I Did It for You: Edward Scissorhands (1990)

For the previous post, go to I Want to Give You What You Love: Age of Adaline (2015)

For more on Back to the Future, go to Nobody calls me Chicken: Chinese New Year

For more on George McFly, go to Back to the Supernatural

For more ’80s films, go to That’s What We’re Trying to Find out! We’re Trying to Find Out Who Killed Him, and Where, and With What!: Clue (1985)

The Temporal Junction Point for the Entire Space-Time Continuum

Marty McFly: That’s right, Doc. November 12, 1955.

Doc: Unbelievable, that old Biff could have chosen that particular date. It could mean that that point in time inherently contains some sort of cosmic significance. Almost as if it were the temporal junction point for the entire space-time continuum. On the other hand, it could just be an amazing coincidence.

So I’m sure some of you might be wondering, with me as crazy holiday obsessed as I am, how could I let November 5th go by without a single word?

In 2012, I celebrated it being the day that Doc Brown created time travel. Props to Doc.

And in 2014, I decided it was time to give V for Vendetta a little time to shine.

This year I decided I was going to ignore both of those for something bigger. Something more important:

Yes, this is the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future, marking this this year as the 60th anniversary of this dance; this crucial moment in time. Not only is it the date that Marty is able to save the future, by ensuring his parents end up together.

But the date in which Biff is finally taken down a peg, and cemented as a loser no longer a bully.

The moment Marty “creates” rock ‘n roll, and heavy metal.

And when he not only manages to harness lightening, but is able to get sent back to 1985.

But that’s not all. In Back to the Future II, Marty goes back to 1985 in order to steal an almanac 2015 Biff  gave to 1955 Biff, in order to we don’t have an evil future.

He he has to spy:

And risk his life battling Biff:

In order to ensure we have the right future.

Yep. Happy Anniversary Temporal Junction Point for the Entire Space-Time Continuum (or the Enchantment Under the Sea dance).

For more on Back to the Future, go to The Future is NOW!: Happy Back to the Future Day