Party on, dudes!

Rating: 7/10 (18 March 2010)

I'll be honest, "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" is a childhood favourite of mine so this review is probably going to be tinged with feelings of nostalgia. That being said, having just rewatched it I think that it holds up well.
Bill (Alex Winter) & Ted (Keanu Reeves) are a pair of hard rockin' high schoolers who find themselves in danger of flunking history class. This impending misfortune would result in Bill being sent to military academy in Alaska, thus putting an end to the duo's fledgling band, Wyld Stallyns. Luckily for them, help is on the way in the form of a time machine from the distant future. To quote Rufus (George Carlin) from the opening scene, "Don't worry, it'll all make sense".
The story requires considerable suspension of belief but it does have its own particular charm. While other favourite films of my childhood no longer hold the same appeal this one holds up pretty well. In fact, it might even be more rewarding now, since today I get some of the subtler jokes regarding the various historical personages.
Reeves & Winter work well together as the dimwitted duo at the centre of the story. Both nail the dumb but lovable vibe that gives their characters their appeal. The incomparable George Carlin is also present in a small role while the actors playing the various historical figures are uniformly effective.
The direction by Stephen Herek is above average for a comedy and the special effects have even held up better than I would have expected. The soundtrack doesn't have much in the way of recognizable content but it all fits the movie and the time period to a T.
Ultimately, "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" is an entertaining comedy that captures the spirit of the time in which it was made. It's no "Citizen Kane" but it's well worth a look for anyone in the mood for a lively comedy with a uniquely goofy premise.