linguisticsgirl.com: ... In my mind, grammatical *form**(what a word looks like) is clearly separate from grammatical function (what a word does). From ODO: 2.1. Any of the ways in which a word may be spelled, pronounced, or inflected 4.2. [count noun] A set order of words; a formula:
When Michael J. Fox played 'Johnny B. Goode' as Marty McFly in 'Back to the Future' in 1985, he was just aping Chuck Berry's classic fretwork for the camera. (Along with some Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Pete Townsend guitar moves thrown in for good measure.) Today, Fox can really play the song.
Eric Stoltz (Mask, Pulp Fiction) was originally cast as Marty McFly in 1985's Back to the Future, but he was replaced after five weeks of filming. was cast, I was paid and everything, Wayans told Gawker Media's io9. But there was too many characters, he said, so Wayans (and the Boy Wonder) were put on hold for the third installment. Then, when Tim Burton didn't end up making another Batman, Wayans was out for good.