Do we like them?

Do we like Marty McFly?

A character from Back to the Future (1985–1990)

Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's brave, loyal and quick on his feet, and he fixes his own messes. His temper and his pride sometimes cause the trouble he then has to fix.

Marty is a laid-back high-schooler in Hill Valley, California, in 1985. He dreams of rock stardom and skateboards everywhere. His family is a bit of a mess: his dad George is timid and his mum Lorraine is a bit sad. His only real ally is Doc Emmett Brown, an eccentric scientist who has built a time machine out of a DeLorean car. When a night of testing goes badly wrong, Marty ends up stranded thirty years in the past.

Marty is easy to back because he's good under pressure. He thinks fast, improvises well, and is polite and brave even when the situation is absurd. He cares about Doc, his girlfriend Jennifer and his awkward parents, and he works hard to put things right. His flaws are real but human. He can't stand being called a coward, and he's cocky and impulsive. Those flaws cause trouble, but they also make him fun to watch.

In 1955 he accidentally gets in the way of his parents' first meeting, which puts his own existence at risk. He then sets about getting them together, coaching his shy father to stand up for himself. He comes home to a happier, more confident family. Later films test him with his hot temper, which keeps landing him in trouble. He has to learn to walk away from the dares that cost him dearly.