Stephen Herek has a sketchy resume with films like DON'T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTERS DEAD and CRITTERS along with MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS. But if he is remembered for anything it will probably be BILL & TED. But really this isn't a director's film. It launched the career of Keanu Reeves as Ted Theodore Logan. Along with Bill S. Preston Esp. (Alex Winter, THE LOST BOYS), the two characters have joined the lexicon on pop culture stars. When was the last time you saw BILL & TED and when was the last time you referenced it? Most often it's the later no matter how long it has been since the former.
The story goes as follows: Bill and Ted have formed the band Wyld Stallyns. However, they're about to fail history, which will lead to Ted being sent away to military school in Alaska. This "tragedy" needs to be prevented because Wyld Stallyns' music will one day bring peace to Earth with its message of being excellent to each other and partying on. So Rufus (George Carlin, DOGMA) is sent back in time to give the boys a time machine so they can pass their history report. Bill and Ted decide to collect various historical figures and have them check out their modern hometown of San Dimas, California. Craziness and mishaps ensue as they do this.
The film's humor comes from Bill and Ted's clueless nature and the "fish out of water" aspects of historical figures in modern times and visa versa. Via its time travel plot, the film gets a chance to poke fun at dozens of genres. In capturing Billy the Kid (Dan Shor, TRON), Bill and Ted head to the Wild West where they get in a bar fight of course. In their attempt to rescue fair maidens in Medieval times, they get to don suits of armor. And like any post STAR WARS child, the wield swords like lightsabers. When it comes to the paradoxes of time travel, the filmmakers have some time machine fun in a totally absurd prison break sequence.
The film is thoroughly silly, but it wins you over mainly due to the performances of the leads. Reeves may have never been better than he is in this film. And if you're not convinced of the pop culture influence this film has had then pay attention to the dialogue. Do you really think dimwitted teens knew the meaning of heinous before this film was released?
Buy "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" Here!
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
