Silly but just manages to get by with energy and charm

Rating: Null/10 (29 March 2002)

Bill and Ted are slacker, surfer types in danger of failing history. This would result in Ted being sent to military school  hence splitting their band, Wylde Stallions. When all seems lost Rufus, from the future, arrives in a time machine to offer the dopey duo the chance to travel back in history and get first hand knowledge of the subject  the future society is based on the music of Wylde Stallions and Rufus must ensure they don't split up. Bill and Ted set off on an excellent adventure.
A famous film despite the criticism. The story is little more than a series of sketches where Bill and Ted kidnap famous people from history. This is quite amusing, but not hilarious. It only really gets funny when all the historical figures are set loose in modern day America for 20 minutes. However even this is broad farce rather than sharp humour. The characters of Bill and Ted are either annoying or cool  depending on how you feel about the surfer-speak they engage in.
Reeves is cool and dopey  it's weird seeing this now, now that he's a big action hero (The One, no less!) but here he is at his rawest (although he's not a great actor). The smarter of the two is also the one that has had less success commercially, but Winter also manages to carry off his role easily. The rest of the cast are amusing in their one-dimensional historical roles.
Overall it's silly and not very funny. However it does have a sort of gormless charm and is quite enjoyable  like a snack that is tasty for a second but leaves no taste! The best thing about this film is that it gave us a much better sequel!