Welcome to Mandatory Movie Battles, where we pit two movies against each other for total dominance. In this edition, we’re pitting Ryan Reynolds against Michael J Fox in a battle between two similar time travel movies, one of which is definitely not a soft remake of the other. By this point, Back to the Future is a science fiction institution. So much so, that just about every time a time travel movie comes out it is almost immediately compared to BTTF. Enter The Adam Project, which is Netflix’s attempt to capture the magic of a retro 80s Amblin picture. But how does the tail of the pop culture ouroboros stack up to the head? Let’s find out!
Cover Photos: Universal/Netflix
There’s no denying the influence of a movie like Back to the Future. It’s a stone-cold classic that undeniably influenced time travel movies ever since. At the same time, The Adam Project is a fun 80s sci-fi throwback. Unlike what the people of the internet may imply, both of these things can be true. And contrary to popular belief (DC stans, we’re looking at you), it is possible to enjoy similar, yet different, movies. Just because BTTF is the de-facto time travel movie doesn’t mean that we also can’t enjoy something like The Adam Project. But as admirable as the Netflix film is, there’s probably no way Back to the Future will ever be topped. Ultimately, it should be considered a huge honor to even mention The Adam Project in the same sentence as Back to the Future.
Overall Winner: Back to the Future
MMB: Adam Project vs BTTF
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Leading Man
Both The Adam Project and Back To The Future are movies that are heavily reliant on the performances of their leading actors. Ever since Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds has essentially been playing versions of himself and The Adam Project is no exception. Although the material is doing him a bunch of favors by playing onto his persona, it’s also a surprisingly emotionally complex performance. On the flip side, There’s no denying that Michael J. Fox is iconic as Marty McFly. In the context of these two movies, Ryan Reynolds’s performance is slightly less annoying than Michael J. Fox’s, even if they’re both objectively great performances.
Winner: The Adam Project
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Characters & Chemistry
Reynolds may have the edge as a solo performer, but the chemistry between Fox and Christopher Lloyd is undeniable. Doc Brown and Marty are an iconic duo, not just in movies, but in pop culture as a whole. Not to mention the perfect performances from the supporting cast, and especially Lea Thompson, who is the heart of the movie. While the rapport between Reynolds and newcomer Walker Scobell is a highlight of The Adam Project, the supporting cast is nowhere near as iconic as that of Back To The Future.
Winner: Back To The Future
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Cinematography
When it comes to classic cinematography, Back To The Future is as influential as they come. Cinematographer Dean Cundey’s amazing career is so indelible that one could easily write a book on the subject. However, his work on Back to the Future could justify a series of think pieces that break down why the cinematography of the movie is so iconic. The opening shot alone is in the pantheon of all-time great one-take shots. Although Tobias A. Schliessler’s cinematography in The Adam Project is serviceable, Cundey’s work in Back to the Future is easily superior.
Winner: Back To The Future
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Effects
Back to the Future is often thought of as an effects picture, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In total, there are only 30 effects shots in the movie, which is minuscule by today’s standards. Compare that to the thousands of VFX shots in something like The Adam Project, and it becomes easy to see that it is is very much an effects picture. Despite the fact that the digital de-aging of Catherine Keener is downright atrocious, the movie is otherwise effective in this category. Even though the effects in Back to the Future are certainly crucial to the story, the VFX in The Adam Project are ultimately more polished.
Winner: The Adam Project
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Music
Both The Adam Project and Back to the Future are musically similar in terms of utilizing soundtrack elements mixed with an original score. Whereas the former uses some classic rock tracks that just about played out, the latter makes iconic use of the soundtrack with “The Power of Love” and “Johnny B. Goode.” Similarly, Rob Simonsen’s score for The Adam Project solidifies him as one of the best modern composers. However, Alan Silvestri’s epic work on Back to the Future is really the element that puts it over the top in this category.
Winner: Back To The Future
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Story & Writing
It’s true that, at their base level, both The Adam Project and Back to the Future are time travel stories. At the same time, they also emphasize themes of family and friendship, albeit in different ways. The Adam Project is essentially a remake of every Amblin movie all rolled into one, and yet the story manages to be moving in a way that is still unexpected. However, Bob Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s screenplay for Back to the Future is archetypal. The writing in the film is so iconic that an entire college screenwriting course could be taught around it.
Winner: Back To The Future
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Time Travel
Last but certainly not least are the time travel elements. In many ways, Back to the Future has defined how popular culture looks at time travel logic. While BTTF’s version of time travel has remained the popular interpretation (a single, changeable timeline), it is also far from the only version of cinematic time travel. Interestingly enough, The Adam Project only offers vague references to the time travel mechanics of the story. This was perhaps the smartest thing that the movie could have done since those details don’t have an effect on the narrative. Even though the time travel in Back to the Future is pretty much perfect, the thing that sets The Adam Project apart from its forefather is that it uses time travel as a device to craft emotion rather than story logic.
Winner: The Adam Project
