Plot
William “Bill” S Preston Esq, and “Ted” Theodore Logan, are best friends, musician wannabe’s and misfits at school almost about to fail history.
One night they are visited by the mysterious time traveler, Rufus, who introduces them to their future selves. They must head through time in order to learn about history – so not to fail their upcoming test – otherwise humanity will be doomed!
Direction
Directed by Stephen Herek in one of his earliest films.
Cast Characters
Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves play Bill and Ted.
George Carlin plays Rufus (who we don’t get enough of!)
Breakdown
While the plot is paper thin, the ride itself is quite fun.
There are the narrative obstacles that the boys go through in their lives (they must pass their upcoming history speech in order to not fail school), Bill’s dad is married to a former schoolmate of the boys (she was a senior when they were juniors), Ted’s father’s threat to send him to military school etc.
They are also made aware that they become uber famous in the future – even as far as becoming god like figures that humanity took inspiration from in the year 2688.
The boys get to meet historical figures such as Napoleon (who gets addicted to ice cream and water parks), Billy the Kid and Socrates (or So Crates), Freud, Genghis Khan (who has fun in a sporting goods store), Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln and Beethoven!
Most of them have comedic ‘kidnappings’ when the boys take them on their ‘excellent adventure’ – and there are some fun comedic moments including when all the historical figures go shopping, and some narrative struggles (the antenna gets broken all the way back in the stone age).
Overall
Fun, silly and you don’t have to think to much about it.
Great start to what was a ‘double’ until the third film in 2020.
Everyone is having fun, and it showcases Reeve’s talent as a comedy star, well before he was an action star.
It’s nonsensical, always silly, but that’s the point!
3.5/5
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