W.A.F. REVIEWS: "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989)

(Here is another classic review from my old Ginger Film Reviews site. Enjoy!)
 

Yup, I’ve been waiting to do this series. Granted, the series currently only contains two movies. The 1980s were a weird and wonderful time. Some of the best films actually came out of this decade. If you were a teenager, chances are you were inundated with countless films dealing with the trials and tribulations of teenage youth, usually brought to you by legendary director John Hughes. But at the tail end of the decade came a new kind of film to help usher in a different kind of teenager.

Meet Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan. These two high schoolers can usually be found in a garage plotting out their plan to become the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band ever, Wyld Stallyns! Sadly, that’s all these two care about, and their school work is severely lacking. One day, their History teacher tells them that if they wanna pass the class, they’re gonna have to do tremendously on their upcoming oral history report. Otherwise, they’ll both be flunked. Things only get worse when Ted’s father explains that if he doesn’t pass, he’ll be immediately shipped off to Alaskan Military School.

The two believe asking random patrons at the local Circle K will help them study, but things are looking bleak. Enter Rufus, a time-traveler from the future, who arrives to give the duo the means they need to pass their report. Of course, before he can explain too much, future versions of Bill & Ted arrive to give a quick pep talk to their present incarnations, and quickly depart to their final destination. Deciding that they didn’t have any other option, they depart with Rufus in a phone booth that doubles as a time traveling machine.

Rufus imparts upon the two the knowledge that with the booth, they can travel through the Circuits of Time to any point in the past, present, or future that they want. However, they must immediately get to work on their report. After quick trips to the Wild West, where they meet and bring along famed gunslinger Billy The Kid, and to Ancient Greece, where they encounter Socrates, they make a pit stop in Medieval England. While there, they meet two Princess Babes, yet are accused of being witches and almost beheaded by the King. Once escaping, the two decide to pick up as many personages of historical significance they can fit into the booth, bring them to present-day San Dimas, showcase them for the report, then take them home after. Soon, they have in their company Sigmund Freud, Ludwig van Beethoven, Genghis Khan, Joan of Arc, President Abraham Lincoln, and Napoleon Bonaparte.

After a brief stop back at the Circle K, where they realize they are now the versions of themselves that must speak to their past selves, they return to present day with just a few hours until the report is due. Of course, hijinx ensue, and the historical dudes end up getting themselves arrested. Bill & Ted are able to free them, get to the auditorium with minutes to spare, and successfully present their report. After dropping all the historical people back in their respective times, then returning home themselves, the duo are once again visited by Rufus, who explains that Bill & Ted are basically considered Gods in the future, and Wyld Stallyns music is the basis for their entire civilization. And when it looked like the pair would be split up, the bosses of the future deemed it necessary to send someone back in time and prevent the possible collapse of everything they know. But Rufus has also brought along a special gift: the Princess Babes!

I LOVE this movie. I have ever since I first saw it when I was a little kid. I’m almost 30 now, and I still watch this movie with a grin on my face. As I stated at the beginning, the 1980s teenage film scene was dominated by John Hughes. But right at the end, along came a little film like this that turned the Teen film scene on its head! They knew the lingo that was being used throughout high schools across the country at the time, and the film is laced with “Dude” “Heinous” and “Excellent”, among other terms.

Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves were PERFECTLY cast in their roles as Bill & Ted. It’s like they took a similar character from another 1980s hit film, “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”, and added a little more heart. That particular character of course being Jeff Spicoli, played by Sean Penn. Then there was the choice of comedian George Carlin as Rufus, which was just a stroke of genius! He was best known at the time for his raunchy style of stage comedy, yet he brought a wholesome warmth to the film. The supporting cast did great work in their roles as well. All the choices for the historical personages put on quite a believable performance.

One of the absolute best things about this film is the music. With Wyld Stallyns attempting to be the world’s greatest rock band, and the two lead characters constantly breaking out their best air guitars, it was only fitting that the film utilize some of the best rock songs of the day. Bands like Big Pig, Vital Signs, Shark Island, Power Tool and Extreme all provide songs for the soundtrack, along with pieces from artists such as Robbie Rob & Glen Burtnick.

I will always fully endorse this film. It’s one of the few films from my childhood that I still watch with kid eyes today. I’ve introduced all my nephews to it, and even purchased myself my own Wyld Stallyns t-shirt! It never grows old. Of course, the film did go on to be a success, and a few years later producers, along with creators Ed Solomon & Chris Matheson, decided to peruse the idea of a sequel…