Bill and Ted's Exvellent Adventure

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

1989

Director: Stephen Herek

Writers: Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon

90 Minutes

Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted Theodore Logan (Keanu Reeves) have been given a time machine to travel through time collecting the greatest figures in history in order to pass their final exam. Where then, these two individuals and their band, Wild Stallions, go onto create a futuristic society based on their music.

It could happen.

Yet when we meet Bill and Ted, they are bumbling idiots that can barely play music.

Hey now, it could happen.

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure grossed over 40 million dollars. It was a hit, creating an outstanding career for Keanu Reeves and launching a directing career for Alex Winter. George Carlin played the ever so knowledgeable Rufus and Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin played Joan of Arc.

But, this wasn’t just a film about two jokers. There was heart to this story.

In the catalyst, Bill and Ted are told their history presentation will decide if they pass or fail this semester’s course. They have slacked off, made jokes, and completely ignored the course material. Now, they have to ante up for their final exam to finish school.

But there is more.

In the scene above, Ted is told by his father (Hal Landon Jr.) that if he does not pass his history presentation, he will be shipped off to Oats Military Academy, thus separating the Wild Stallions. This act means everything. If the band separates, the future will sees to exist. More so, Bill and Ted’s friendship will ultimately be extinguished.

Ah oh.

See, it’s not that Bill and Ted care about failing school. That’s nothing. It’s the fact that if they fail, Ted will be shipped off, and their band won’t make it. That's everything. And even though they are the worst band in the world - their music career amounting to almost nothing - they agree the band must survive.

Like I said, bumbling idiots.

But, they have dreams. That’s what makes them likeable. And they are best friends. That’s what makes them lovable.

We, the audience, don’t want to see two best friends break up, especially Bill and Ted who finish each other’s sentences. We realize they must carry on. Ted’s father oppression causes conflict, but he cannot succeed. These two have to stay together. And thus, we begin the story of how these two will travel through time, collecting folks such as Billy the Kid, Sigmund Freud, and Abraham Lincoln.

And what’s more entertaining then watching two stoners interact with some of the greatest leaders, minds, and warriors that ever ruled the earth.

In the end, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure was fun. It was pure and simple. It was entertaining. But even "fun movies" need something to back it up. Here, it was friendship.

What could be more important than that…?