Starring: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin
Written by: Chris Matheson, Ed Solomon
Director: Stephen Herek
Year: 1989
Rating: * * * 1/2 Stars + (Fan Bonus 1/2 ) Total: * * * *
Written by: Chris Matheson, Ed Solomon
Director: Stephen Herek
Year: 1989
Rating: * * * 1/2 Stars + (Fan Bonus 1/2 ) Total: * * * *
Time travel has never been this bodacious. Two slacker seniors use a time machine to help them with an oral history report. Little do they know that this test is the linchpin that holds a future society together.
Bill S. Preston (Alex Winter) and Ted Theodore Logan (Keanu Reeves) are frontmen for their garage band Wyld Stallyns. Although they can't play a note, they sure can pose. During history class, their teacher informs them that they will fail the entire year unless they ace their final exam, an oral history report held in the auditorium. To make matters worse, Ted's Dad plans to enroll him into an Alaskan military school, thus breaking up their friendship, and the band.
What's so big about splitting up two tone-deaf hard rock posers? Apparently a lot. In the future, Rufus (George Carlin) is sent back in time to aid the two in passing their report. Their entire way of life is founded on the music of Wyld Stallyns.
So our heroes decide to kidnap historical figures including Napoleon, Joan of Arc, Billy the Kid, Genghis Khan, and more. What ensues is hilarious situational comedy as Bill and Ted collect people throughout history, evade Ted's Dad, and cause a scene at the mall in which they have to break out all the historical figures from jail. Genghis Khan going nuts in a sporting goods store is movie gold. Napoleon is priceless as he is left with Ted's younger brother and friends. They introduce histories greatest general to the future by taking him bowling, to an ice cream parlor, and a water park.
Alex and Keanu are perfect in their roles as two below average teens who's brains have been fried from MTV. George Carlin plays it straight as Rufus, their time-travelling benefactor. The soundtrack captures the era perfectly with 80's musicians like Extreme, Shark Island, Vital signs, and Robbie Rob providing original tunes.
With a decent follow up in 1991, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, these characters remain cultural icons, even if Keanu Reeves to this day still tries to shake that stigma.
SEE THE TRAILER: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
While it certainly made a splash in its day, this is no four star movie. Sure, Reeves played his part so well that he could never get past being typecast even after the Matrix. But essentially this film was Wayne's World with time travel.
ReplyDeletePut this movie against Time Bandits for a good Film VS Film, however!
I was actually thinking about that as a match up. I also appologize for putting them back to back in my reviews. Two time-travel comedies in a row.
ReplyDeleteAgain, it isn't a 4 star film, please don't confuse the general rating with the total rating that may add in a fan based kicker.