Second time lucky

Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, “Back to the Future”

Original Casting Choice: Eric Stoltz spent a few weeks playing the time-traveling teenager before Fox, the filmmakers’ first choice for the role, was able to adjust his shooting schedule on TV’s “Family Ties” to make the movie.

Why the Switch Worked: All boyish charm and hilariously exasperated befuddlement, Fox is effortlessly likeable as Marty. And he certainly possesses more star power than Stoltz, a solid character actor who tends to be a bit vanilla in leading roles.