One of the best movies of my childhood, even though it wasn’t made for children, was Back to the Future. The original BTTF debuted in 1986 to wide acclaim. It won an Oscar and was nominated for 3 others, technical and creative. The 7 y/o version of me couldn’t agree more. Rather than dissect the stirring music, advances in special effects or specific genre of time travel sci-fi that BTTF reintroduced to public awareness, I wanted to write about something more tangible but seemingly unnoticed:Biff Tannen.It’s easy to argu
e that Biff merely represents a classic archetype of the evil villain and little more. While I agree that he does fit the standard model at first blush, on closer inspection one learns that he’s got a little extra that’s not commonly seen in films of the same pedigree as BTTF (exception being Neidermyer from Animal House). A good start to this inspection is the sequels, which although I enjoy, I don’t hold as close to my heart as BTTF Part I. By representing the Tannen character in different eras and even in different possible timelines this otherwise clichéd villain is fleshed out and given much more solidarity.
e that Biff merely represents a classic archetype of the evil villain and little more. While I agree that he does fit the standard model at first blush, on closer inspection one learns that he’s got a little extra that’s not commonly seen in films of the same pedigree as BTTF (exception being Neidermyer from Animal House). A good start to this inspection is the sequels, which although I enjoy, I don’t hold as close to my heart as BTTF Part I. By representing the Tannen character in different eras and even in different possible timelines this otherwise clichéd villain is fleshed out and given much more solidarity.Something to notice over these different settings is that Biff remains true to the original archetype. He sexually abuses women, bullies everyone and even verbally assaults an older version of himself. Across every venue Biff is unchanged. He is the ultimate asshole. And I’m not just being lazy here as there are many words I could choose to describe him: Inconsiderate, disrespectful, ignorant, malicious, stubborn, etc. All of these adjectives add up to the same thing:Asshole. This title sounds bad if you say it out loud but many movie villains, and myself personally, have been called worse.
It’s for this reason that Biff doesn’t taxonomically belong in the same category as Fre
ddy Krueger or Darth Vader as far as baddies are concerned. Heck Vader blew up an entire planet as casually as you or I might delete an item from a Netflix queue. Although Biff technically does commit murder by killing George McFly in alternate 1985 during BTTF part II, he isn’t in the same league of these guys. Biff is an asshole, plain and simple. Whether it’s Buford Tannen in 1885 or Griff in 2015 he’s invariably the same asshole.
ddy Krueger or Darth Vader as far as baddies are concerned. Heck Vader blew up an entire planet as casually as you or I might delete an item from a Netflix queue. Although Biff technically does commit murder by killing George McFly in alternate 1985 during BTTF part II, he isn’t in the same league of these guys. Biff is an asshole, plain and simple. Whether it’s Buford Tannen in 1885 or Griff in 2015 he’s invariably the same asshole.Maybe it’s the “Me Generation” from which the character was created, but Biff possesses many of the terri
ble qualities that most people condemn, yet nevertheless experience with regularity. This is what separates Biff from most other movie villains. It could be the kid at Blockbuster who closes the store 5 minutes early for a cigarette so you can’t rent the movie your girlfriend wanted. Or that guy at work you eat lunch with on Fridays who never tips the Chili’s waitress more than 5%. I see Biff Tannen at every single desk at the DMV and post office. Perhaps Biff is your neighbor who doesn’t cut his lawn, plays death metal at 3am and lets his dog crap in your yard? Heck, sometimes Biff Tannen may even be you.
ble qualities that most people condemn, yet nevertheless experience with regularity. This is what separates Biff from most other movie villains. It could be the kid at Blockbuster who closes the store 5 minutes early for a cigarette so you can’t rent the movie your girlfriend wanted. Or that guy at work you eat lunch with on Fridays who never tips the Chili’s waitress more than 5%. I see Biff Tannen at every single desk at the DMV and post office. Perhaps Biff is your neighbor who doesn’t cut his lawn, plays death metal at 3am and lets his dog crap in your yard? Heck, sometimes Biff Tannen may even be you. 
That’s the overlooked element of the Biff character. Yes he is a common heel, a bad guy with an axe to grind, but he’s universally recognizable as someone most people have to tolerate and probably interact with on a regular basis. Biff Tannen is the ultimate asshole, and true to his nature he’s ok with that label. At least he’s not a butthead, but that’s an entirely different post.
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