Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

"Who are you guys?"

"We're you, dude."

"No way. No... way."

"Yes way."

In the 1980s, teenagers Bill Preston (Winter) and Ted Logan (Reeves) are trying to start a band.  Their dreams for stardom are in jeopardy as they are failing history.  If they fail, Ted will be sent to military school in another state and the band will break up.  To pass the class, they need to get an A on their final project.

For the final project, they must describe how historical figures would feel about modern life.  Things look bleak for the duo, until Rufus (Carlin) from the future brings them a phone booth time machine.  They decide to use the time machine to meet historical figures for their report.  Can they get the report done in time to pass the class?


This film was a surprise hit and propelled it's leads to stardom.  It also spawned a franchise: a film  sequel (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey) in 1991, an animated TV show (Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures) from 1990-1991, a live-action TV show (also called Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures) in 1992, and several video games.

The Good:
The film doesn't take itself too seriously.  It is ridiculous, and somehow it works.  You don't need to think much to enjoy the movie... and you don't need any knowledge of the historical figures that appear (but if you have even a passing knowledge, you will get a few extra chuckles).

The Bad:
The film is definitely a product of it's time: the clothes and language.  That isn't a dig against the film, it is just something you have to get past.

Other Comments:
-I tried to watch this film before, but gave up after a few minutes.  Some friends challenged me to give the film a second chance, and I enjoyed it more than expected.
-The story, written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon (who also wrote the sequel) doesn't try to hard and has an effortless charm
-I never understood why people liked Keanu Reeves.  Now it makes sense (and I understand his acting style a little better).  He and Alex Winter are a great pair and I plan to check out the sequel.
-Reeves, Winter, and the writers (Matheson and Solomon) reunited for another sequel: Bill & Ted Face the Music, set to be released in 2020


Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) 89 minutes
Director: Stephen Herek
Starring: Keanu Reeves as Ted "Theodore" Logan
Alex Winter as Bill S. Preston Esq.
George Carlin as Rufus
Terry Camilleri as Napoleon Bonaparte
Dan Shor as Billy the Kid
Tony Steedman as Socrates
Rod Loomis as Sigmund Freud
Al Leong as Genghis Khan
Jane Wiedlin as Joan of Arc
Robert V. Barron as Abraham Lincoln
Clifford David as Ludwig van Beethoven