Back To The Future co-creator shuts down viral plot hole argument

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Quarantine has all of us revisiting some of our favorite films and as a result, a new social media challenge has emerged. Across social media many people started doing the "5 Perfect Movies" challenge and it has also gained the attention of a few actors and directors as well. James Gunn, for instance, joined the fun and he listed BACK TO THE FUTURE as a perfect movie. According to Gunn, "a perfect film can be different from a favorite film, or a great film. A perfect film is something that sings from start to finish with no obvious mistakes, whether they be aesthetic or structural. There are no logical lapses." Well, based on his definition, leave it to Twitter to call him out on his inclusion of BACK TO THE FUTURE because they felt a presumed major plot hole makes it impossible to claim that title and this is why BACK TO THE FUTURE co-creator, Bob Gale, jumped in to put these plot hole concerns to rest.

The plot hole in question in BACK TO THE FUTURE has to deal with Marty McFly's (Michael J. Fox) parents not remembering that he was the reason they got together. Of course when Marty goes back to the past and meets the people who will become his parents they don't know him as their son but he does become known as "Calvin", thanks to his choice of underwear. Lorraine, played by Lea Thompson, also becomes infatuated with him which is a plot device for another time but what fans have picked apart is why wouldn't the parents at least remember Marty or that someone that looks like Marty got them together in 1955. 

After fans called out this moment as an imperfect aspect of BACK TO THE FUTURE, Bob Gale officially settled the "plot hole" argument and gave a much more in depth answer to "The Hollywood Reporter" that probably wasn't worthy of all the internet chatter:

"Bear in mind that George and Lorraine only knew Marty/Calvin for six days when they were 17, and they did not even see him every one of those six days.So, many years later, they still might remember that interesting kid who got them together on their first date. But I would ask anyone to think back on their own high school days and ask themselves how well they remember a kid who might have been at their school for even a semester. Or someone you went out with just one time. If you had no photo reference, after 25 years, you'd probably have just a hazy recollection. So Lorraine and George might think it funny that they once actually met someone named Calvin Klein, and even if they thought their son at age 16 or 17 had some resemblance to him, it wouldn't be a big deal. I'd bet most of us could look thru our high school yearbooks and find photos of our teen-aged classmates that bear some resemblance to our children."

So there you have it. It's not a plot hole but it's simply that they just dont recollect that thus guy named Calvin happens to look like their soon all these years later. They didn't spend enough time with Calvin for him to be a permanent fixture in their mind so it's not something they would address. Chris Pratt also took to Twitter to defend his GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY director by agreeing with Gunn and siding with Gale on the reason why this isn't a plot hole:

"Maybe they do remember him tho, not as Marty, as Calvin. When Marty returns to present day 1985, it could have been years since his parents would have perhaps originally noted the uncanny resemblance between their son and that kid from high school 20 years previous"

Debate over tthe "perfect" film is going to be subjective. What's perfect to me, may not be perfect to you. A lot of other films popping up on various lists are THE GODFATHER, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, JAWS & THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. BACK TO THE FUTURE is probably being called out because time travel movies seem to take the brunt of debate and online criticism but whatever brings more attention to this 80s classic is all positive in my book.

Do YOU think the plot hole argument is valid or can it be explained away? Also, what are YOUR 5 Perfect Movies?