Review: BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL is really strange

When I first heard it Back to the future was about to be adapted into a Broadway musical, I was both curious and skeptical.

How do you take a beloved classic like this iconic ’80s film and turn it into a musical theater production? My wife and I decided to check it out for ourselves over the weekend and, well… it was pretty damn weird.

From the show’s opening moments, it was clear that it was going to be a strange ride and not be a completely faithful retelling of the film we all know and love.

Major parts of the story were changed and it all started with the fate of Doc Brown as in the musical he is not shot by terrorists. Instead, he succumbs to radiation poisoning from the plutonium he uses to power the DeLorean. It’s a strange and dark change for such an energetic character.

And the ending? The film’s ending is replaced by a jarring “George McFly Day,” which celebrates Marty’s father’s newfound confidence as a famous author.

Oh, and let’s not forget the part where Marty touches his mother’s breast. Yes, you read that right. Lorraine, Marty’s mom, is much more aggressive in pursuing him in the play than in the film.

That said, there were some really interesting moments in the production. The effects used for the DeLorean and time travel sequences were impressive and imaginative.

The production design and special effects team clearly worked hard to make these scenes dynamic and entertaining. It’s a shame that the rest of the production didn’t live up to the same level of creativity.

And then there’s the music. Oh, the music. Having grown up with a father deeply involved in musical theatre, I like to think I developed a good ear for good music, and music in Back to the Future: The Musical it was tough. Maybe there was a decent song, but even that was forgettable.

None of the charm or energy of the original film translated into the musical numbers, which were bland at best and cringeworthy at worst.

Another problem was the tone. Everything about the musical felt overly cartoonish, as if the production couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be a parody or a sincere adaptation. The result was a bizarre mix of slapstick humor, over-the-top acting, and awkward storytelling that never quite worked.

Ultimately, the show made me feel that just because you can adapt a classic film into a musical doesn’t mean you should. The original Back to the future it’s a masterclass in storytelling, pacing and character development, qualities that music struggles to capture.

For fans of the film, it may be worth seeing just out of curiosity, but don’t expect to leave the theater feeling like you’ve traveled back to the future.

You’ll most likely be left scratching your head and wondering, “What did I just watch?”