Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey

Plot

In 2691, a super-villain named De Nomolos has created two evil robots who look identical to Bill and Ted. His plan, to send them back to 1991 and stop them from winning a ‘battle of the bands’ which would lead them to fame and become the icons they would be.

Now the real Bill and Ted, having been murdered by the evil Bill and Ted, must find their way through the afterlife with the help of the Grim Reaper – to get back to the land of the living, stop the bad guys, get their girlfriends back, and win the battle of the bands… can they do it?

Direction

Directed by Peter Hewitt in his feature film debut, it is actual a fun ride with some great set designs (such as heaven and hell), as well as some clever camera angles.

Cast/Characters

Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves of course return as William S Preston Esq, and Ted “Theodore” Logan.

Other cast returning from Excellent Adventure are George Carlin (as Rufus), Amy Stoch (as Missy), Hal Landon Jr (as Capt Logan – who is now married to Missy).

New cast and characters are the late Joss Ackland as De Nomolos (who gives it his all), Pam Grier as Ms Wardroe and William Sadler as the Grim Reaper.

Breakdown

Like the first film, this is a product of the era.. but since the world is seemingly nostalgic for this era – this is a good thing rather than a bad thing.

There are some fun jokes that are extended upon, and don’t feel at all recycled – and that includes Missy now being married to Ted’s Dad (she was married to Bill’s dad in the first film).

A small issue I had was with how underused some of the more fun and popular characters were, especially Rufus (RIP George Carlin), De Nomolus – and even to an extent The Grim Reaper. Die Hard 2 big bad William Sadler is a hoot as ‘Death’ who battles Bill and Ted for their souls in all sorts of games (an homage to The Seventh Seal) including Battleship, Cluedo and Twister!

Lots of the jokes are very funny, like the long fall (and 20 questions as the boys fall into hell), Death’s time on earth, the time traveling in the final act, and Bill and Ted’s ‘takeover’ of Ted’s dad and coworker.

Overall

Another fun nonsensical ride, that you don’t have to think to much about… you just enjoy.

Love how committed the cast are to their performances, and the set designs and direction is better than it needs to be.

A recommend.

3.5/5

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