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 an actor whose image is permanently etched into popular culture: the quick-witted son from Family Ties, the mischievous Teen Wolf, or Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy. For many, that youthful, vibrant image persists long after his withdrawal from the spotlight following his Parkinson’s diagnosis. STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie aims to correct that fixed perception. Rather than letting his illness be the single defining frame through which we view him, the documentary places his life, career and personality at the centre, showing a fuller, evolving portrait of a man who has lived with extraordinary public visibility and private challenge.
From its opening moments, the film lets Fox speak for himself. He quickly describes himself—without irony—as a “tough son of a bitch,” a blunt, self-aware line that sets the tone. That remark isn’t merely bravado; it reframes the story. Parkinson’s is a significant chapter in his life, but the film insists it is not the whole story. The documentary conveys the simple but potent idea that an illness does not replace who a person is. Michael J. Fox was resilient, driven and sharp-witted before his diagnosis at 29, and those traits remain central to his identity.
Director Davis Guggenheim structures the film around archival footage, candid present-day interviews with Fox and intimate family moments. Old TV clips and movie scenes are woven together with contemporary reflections and occasional dramatized moments, creating a layered narrative that highlights both public triumphs and private struggles. The film charts his childhood ambitions, the influence of his parents, the hard work and luck that launched a career, and then the seismic impact of a young-person’s diagnosis. Rather than treating Parkinson’s as an identity transplant, STILL treats it as the beginning of a new battle in a life already defined by persistence.
One of the film’s strengths is its intimacy. We spend time with Fox and his family in ordinary domestic scenes that reveal as much about him as any official interview. A standout sequence captures a morning in the family kitchen: casual, warm, and alive with Fox’s dry humour. He jokes about his texting habits and the chaos of family communication in a way that feels natural and timeless. That comic timing—sharp, self-deprecating and effortless—reminds viewers of the performer who once lit up screens in sitcoms and blockbuster films.
STILL also embraces a controlled vulnerability. The film is largely told from Fox’s vantage point; outside commentary is limited, and family members speak only in his presence. That approach gives the documentary a confessional quality. It feels like Fox is guiding us through his memories and interpretations rather than having others narrate his life for us. The result is an honest, often moving account of how a public life adapts in the face of private suffering, and how love, determination and humour function as tools of survival.
Beyond the personal, the film offers broader lessons without being didactic. It underlines a simple but powerful message: illnesses and disabilities do not have to define a person’s worth or identity. It is also a study in perseverance—what it takes to continue working, advocating and loving when the physical and emotional costs are high. Fox’s activism and foundation work are acknowledged as part of a larger story about purpose and legacy. The documentary balances sadness with joy, providing moments of tenderness, laughter and reflection in equal measure.
For longtime fans, STILL provides a welcome update on a beloved figure. For newcomers, it offers a comprehensive portrait of a life lived in the public eye and the private complexities behind it. The film doesn’t shy away from pain, but it refuses to reduce its subject to that pain alone. Instead, it presents Michael J. Fox as a whole person—an actor, a husband, a father, an activist—whose character shines through adversity.
Score: 17/24
Rating: 3 out of 5.
By Rob Jones
If you appreciate thoughtful film profiles and honest storytelling, STILL offers a compassionate, well-crafted portrait of resilience and humanity. It’s worth watching both for its cinematic construction and for the chance to spend time with Michael J. Fox as he reflects on a life that continues to surprise and inspire.