Home/Episodes/Back to the Future Part II
‘Back to the Future Part II’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Cousin Sal
May 21, 2024 · Back to the Future Part II (1989) · Adventure · Comedy · Sci-Fi · 1:42:01 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMarty putting on the self-lacing Nikes sequence - includes Downtown Hill Valley in 1985, Biff's Grandpa, Nostalgia Store with Perrier, Cafe 80s, two McFlys in Cafe 80s, hoverboard chase▶ 35:40
Cousin SalCafe 80s scene - specifically mentions the video game, Elijah Wood cameo, and the 'chicken' moment with Griff▶ 36:01
What's Aged the Best
Chris RyanHoverboard sequences, especially the practical effects and harnesses used in filming▶ 52:52
Cousin SalMichael J. Fox aged better than his 2015 portrayal, future jokes still hold up, and slacker terminology should be used more▶ 52:20
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe Crispin Glover Frankenstein situation - his absence from the film and the awkward replacement▶ 55:00
Chris RyanThe Crispin Glover Frankenstein situation - agrees it's the weak link and emphasizes how it hurts the movie▶ 55:04
Cousin SalDiscusses the Crispin Glover situation extensively but doesn't explicitly state it as their pick, though participates in the consensus▶ 55:53
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsMultiple picks: the movie's groundbreaking nature being hard to explain, Marty and Jennifer being too old (Elizabeth Shue specifically), excessive Pepsi product placement, Michael J. Fox playing his daughter, and Griff's overacting▶ 57:44
Chris RyanToo much science talk/exposition - the movie became nerdy compared to the cool, rock and roll first film▶ 58:22
Cousin SalThe original premise - Doc should have just told Marty to get therapy for his chicken problem instead of time traveling▶ 58:37
Is There a Better Title?
Cousin SalSuggested 'Marty still chicken after all these years?' and 'Back to the Future 2 Electric Boogaloo' but ultimately said no▶ 1:03:40
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsThe anti-gravity slam ball sport described in the movie's research (combination of jai alai, handball and roller derby) should exist and would be better than pickleball▶ 1:07:27
Chris RyanWe should release real hoverboards to get kids away from social media devices, despite the safety risks▶ 1:04:28
Cousin SalMarty is actually Biff's son, not George's son, and this should have been the plot of Back to the Future 3▶ 1:05:59
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsCrispin Glover — Discussed Crispin Glover's departure over money/story disagreements and Claudie Wells being replaced by Elizabeth Shue due to family crisis▶ 1:09:13
Chris RyanClaudia Wells — Discussed Claudie Wells situation and mentioned something fishy about her absence from anniversary materials until 2015▶ 1:09:48
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsPaul J. Wilson — Yes for sports almanacs, Tom Wilson, Jeffrey Weissman, Oolala Magazine, D. Jones manure hauling, hoverboard technology, and sports gambling movies. No for Michael J. Fox, Leah Thompson, Elizabeth Shue, Zemeckis, time travel movies, and Mr. Sandman in movies▶ 1:15:22
Chris RyanPaul J. Wilson — Yes for Tom Wilson (plays 19 people) and hoverboard technology apex mountain▶ 1:15:59
Cousin SalPaul J. Wilson — Yes for Tom Wilson and agrees this is apex mountain of sports gambling movies▶ 1:16:01
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsCould he have just gone back into the fiery garbage and maybe look through and make sure?▶ 1:31:25
Is This Movie Better With
Chris RyanChris was trying to imagine a Wayne Jenkins scene involving screaming about 'Haralabob', but didn't land on a specific pick.▶ 1:33:53
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsBack to the Future Part III — Back to the Future Part III, because it's basically one movie with Part II▶ 1:36:56
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsDoc shouldn't go into the future to fix Marty's kids' problems since he'll probably be dead by then - criticizes Doc's creepy over-involvement▶ 1:38:28
Cousin SalYou can't change it based on even if you know your flaws. And really try hard not to fuck your mother.▶ 1:37:54
Who Won the Movie
Bill SimmonsRobert Zemeckis — Initially suggests Michael J. Fox, then agrees with Zemeckis as the winner▶ 1:38:57
Movies Referenced (41)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back to the Future (1985) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 38 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Cousin Sal | ▶ 2:24 |
| Casino (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Cousin Sal, Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:37 |
| Jaws (1975) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Cousin Sal | ▶ 17:46 |
| Limitless (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 15:48 |
| The Time Machine (2002) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Cousin Sal | ▶ 4:40 |
| Halloween (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:15:42 |
| Blood Diamond (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Cousin Sal | ▶ 5:17 |
| Casualties of War (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 28:39 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Cousin Sal, Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:53 |
| Grease (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Cousin Sal | ▶ 31:43 |
| Risky Business (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:19:05 |
| Say Anything (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 31:35 |
Directors Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Zemeckis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 15 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Cousin Sal | Back to the Future, Forrest Gump | ▶ 18:42 |
| Brian De Palma | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities | ▶ 28:39 |
| Max Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Cousin Sal | ▶ 52:13 | |
| Russ Meyer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:28 | |
| Stanley Kubrick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon | ▶ 51:14 |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 49:34 |
Actors Referenced (53)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael J. Fox | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 23 | Bill Simmons, Cousin Sal, Chris Ryan | Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part II | ▶ 2:49 |
| Crispin Glover | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 27:04 | |
| Elisabeth Shue | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Leaving Las Vegas, Adventures in Babysitting, The Saint | ▶ 50:25 |
| Christopher Lloyd | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Cousin Sal | Back to the Future, The Addams Family | ▶ 2:49 |
| Tom Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Cousin Sal | Back to the Future Part III, Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part II | ▶ 1:02:06 |
| Bill Hader | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Inside Out | ▶ 1:32:38 |
| Claudia Wells | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Cousin Sal | Back to the Future | ▶ 29:46 |
| Joe Flaherty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Chris Ryan, Cousin Sal | Happy Gilmore, Back to the Future Part II | ▶ 1:10:08 |
| Pill | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Spring Breakers | ▶ 15:48 |
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 54:20 |
| Jeffrey Weissman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Back to the Future Part II | ▶ 54:32 |
| Mike Myers | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | ▶ 1:00:37 |
Writers Referenced (6)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 26:28 | |
| Tom Holland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons | Child's Play | ▶ 1:32:38 |
| Bob Gale | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part III | ▶ 27:30 |
| Carl Sagan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 6:09 | |
| Kurt Warner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:39:56 | |
| Richard Nixon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 19:10 |