MovieChat Forums > Back to the Future (1985) Discussion > What Made Dave McFly Change Jobs?

What Made Dave McFly Change Jobs?

posted 4 years ago by MinorityRules15 (963)
10 replies | jump to latest

In the original timeline in the beginning of the movie, we can see he works in fast food at Burger King. Later on at the end of the movie, he says, "I always wear a suit to the office." So, he works in an office now.

My question is: Why? Since George and Lorraine's life was changed via Marty in the past, what did this have to do with his brother Dave? Is the movie trying to imply that if your parents are "losers" then you will want to work some "loser job" instead of an office job? Did Lorraine and George push him to succeed more in the new timeline? In the old timeline, did they just not care that he worked fast food? Dave didn't care either? It sure looked like Lorraine was disappointed that he worked in fast food in the beginning of the movie. So, obviously it seems they cared and wanted him to do better even in the original timeline!

What sparked Dave's change?

[–] Bloodworth79 (5687) 4 years ago

Looks like when he came back the family was over all more financially successful.

Financial success could have provided Dave with tutors through high school , college degree. Providing more opportunities to succeed.

[–] moviechatterer (15583) 4 years ago

" to imply that if your parents are "losers" then you will want to work some "loser job" instead of an office job?"

Isnt that pretty much the case?

Did Lorraine and George push him to succeed more in the new timeline? yeah i reckon so

[–] moviechatterer (15583) 4 years ago

and now he's in an "office"
big woop.
If you're in an office someone else is doing the work and you are just shuffling papers and livuing of the work of the guy who you're writing about.
Mostly. It can pay well though.

[–] hurricane (1959) 4 years ago

In the original 1985, before any time travelling has occurred, Marty and Jennifer are talking about some advice Doc always gives to them. "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything". In this timeline, George McFly is a wimp, Lorraine is an alcoholic and Dave works in a burger bar.

On time travelling back to the 1950s Marty encourages George to be more confident, and gives George the same advice that Doc always tells him. George takes this to heart, beats up Biff and starts to believe in himself more.

On travelling back to 1985, George has accomplished his dream and become an author. On handing a copy of his new book to Marty, George repeats the advice; "If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything." It's safe to say he has repeated this advice to Dave also.

I think the point is, in the new 1985 the parents are more encouraging of their kids. Therefore it's not a surprise that Dave is fulfilling his full potential in the new present, when he hadn't been previously.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Good explanation, but I wonder why Marty was the only apparently well-rounded member of such an initially dysfunctional family? Was it hanging around Doc that did it for him? You would think his parents would want him to steer clear of Doc Brown.

[–] Heisenberg (6730) 4 years ago

He is always late as school, he's a slacker, he gives up on his dreams a lot, he lies to his parents, he hangs out for no clear reason with an old weirdo, his dream in life is owning a fucking jeep....I don't think Marty is a real winner now, is he?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I don't agree about the slacker, only that baldy slap Strickland calls him that, when I'm certain he calls EVERY student that.

[–] hurricane (1959) 4 years ago

Well, like I say, in the original 1985, the person who gave him the advice that you can accomplish anything was Doc, not his parents.

Look around the table when they're eating dinner, Lorraine is drinking heavily and is criticising Marty for having a girlfriend that *shock horror* tried to call him on the telephone. George is a wimp, who has been doing Biff's work for years, and apparently cares more about laughing at some 30-year old TV show than what his family is saying or doing.

Maybe his parents didn't know about Doc Brown. They don't strike me as the best parents in the world. Marty hadn't told them he was going away for the weekend, it's not a massive stretch to assume that he hadn't told them about Doc either. Remember early in the movie, he goes to Doc's laboratory when he's supposed to be on his way to school. Maybe his parents didn't pay that much attention to what he was doing.

We never really know much about Marty and Doc's relationship before the events of this film. Some speculate that Marty answered an advertisement that Doc put out wanting a lab assistant. Maybe, as far as his parents know, he's just doing odd jobs for a local scientist. In the 1980s people weren't as suspicious as they might be nowadays of an elderly man being friends with a teenager. So, they could've just left it alone.

The only person who really calls him on his relationship with Doc was Strickland, and by his manner, we understand that Strickland isn't necessarily somebody whose opinion we should be taking seriously. Strickland told Marty that his father was a loser and told him not to bother auditioning for the band, because he was already sure he would fail. This was far too harsh a way to talk to somebody who you were meant to be disciplining for being late. Audiences weren't meant to take this warning about Doc seriously, but it did introduce the idea of Doc being an eccentric local scientist.

[–] moviechatterer (15583) 4 years ago

What Made Dave McFly Change Jobs?
We really are scraping the barrel for BTTF related stuff to talk about now arnt we!

It could have been absolutely anything!
Even if Marty changed nothing he'd probly be in a different job if history ran again.
Butterfly effect!

Also you answered yor own question:
" Lorraine and George push him to succeed more in the new timeline"
since they achieved more , they instilled that in him

[–] strntz (12224) 4 years ago

What sparked Dave's change?

George and Lorraine McFly, or should I say alternate time line George and Lorraine McFly.

Although his DNA hadn't changed, Dave in the new alternate timeline was raised by a father who wasn't an office toadie, but an executive and now a published writer. He was raised by a mother who wasn't an alcoholic but a person who ran a tight ship at home. Both were full of confidence and would impart their alternate time line morals on the kids.

I'm sure Dave and Linda received a lot more love, attention, and a strong work ethic in the revised time line than they did in the original time line. Marty on the other hand apparently bypassed the improved time line and jumped from original time line 1985 to alternate time line 1985.