STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie (2023)
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Tracey Pollan, Sam Fox, Aquinnah Fox, Schuyler Fox, Annabelle Fox
Michael J. Fox is one of those actors whose public image is frozen in the roles that made him famous: the wisecracking Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties, the teen hero of Teen Wolf, and, of course, Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy. For many, that snapshot excludes the later chapters of his life—most notably his long, public struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Davis Guggenheim’s documentary STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie reframes that narrative. Rather than defining Fox by his illness, the film presents a life in full: a determined, witty, resilient person whose career and character existed long before his diagnosis and continue despite it.
The film opens with Fox speaking directly about himself—an immediate reminder that the man behind those iconic roles still possesses the same spark that endeared him to audiences decades ago. He even self-describes as a “tough son of a bitch,” an unvarnished line that signals the documentary’s central thesis: illness may change circumstances, but it does not erase the person. In this way, STILL refuses the reductive urge to let Parkinson’s define Fox’s identity. Instead it treats the diagnosis as a major event—one that altered his life’s course—but not the entirety of his story.
Guggenheim and his collaborators build the narrative through a mix of archival footage, contemporary interviews, family moments, and carefully selected dramatizations that underscore key memories. This blend gives viewers both the public and private textures of Fox’s life: clips from early television and film work show his comedic timing and screen presence, while home videos and present-day conversations reveal the man behind the persona. The documentary covers his upbringing, the ambitions that propelled him into show business, and the trials he faced along the way. It’s this broader life context that makes his perseverance and character so compelling.
One of STILL’s strengths is its sustained attention to voice and tone. The film is presented almost entirely from Fox’s point of view: there are no detached commentators speculating about his life behind his back. Family members and friends appear and speak, but only in his presence, and much of the film feels like an intimate conversation rather than an exposé. That choice lends the movie a candid, immediate quality. Moments of levity sit comfortably beside scenes of vulnerability; the result is humane and balanced.
Fox’s comic instincts remain intact, and small domestic scenes highlight this beautifully. A memorable sequence shows the family gathered in the kitchen, exchanging banter about a simple, modern frustration—misunderstood text messages. Fox’s self-deprecating humor and quick timing are on display, offering a reminder that his talent and personality are ongoing, not relics of a previous era. These everyday fragments anchor the film, demonstrating that humor and warmth coexist with hardship.
Beyond style and structure, STILL is quietly instructional. It doesn’t offer trite moralizing, but the film does surface clear lessons: illness does not erase identity; resilience can coexist with vulnerability; persistence and love matter. Fox’s narrative—his choices, his family relationships, his advocacy—speaks to how someone can continue to lead a meaningful life while managing a chronic condition. The documentary is as much about the mechanics of living well under pressure as it is about celebrity or illness.
For viewers, the emotional payoff is simple and genuine: it feels good to spend time with Michael J. Fox. The film’s pacing and thoughtful assembly make room for both recollection and reflection, and the portrait that emerges is sympathetic without being sanctimonious. Whether you come for nostalgia, for insight into Parkinson’s, or simply to learn more about an enduring screen presence, STILL offers a considerate, well-crafted account that respects its subject’s complexity.
Score: 17/24
Rating: 3 out of 5.
By Rob Jones
You can support Rob Jones on his website: rbrtjones.com
Twitter: @rbrtjones