Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989): The most bodacious time-travel movie
1989 • Stephen Herek • 2.35:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
In Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, directed by Stephen Herek, two well-meaning but academically underachieving high school students are given access to a time machine to gather historical figures for a presentation that will determine their future graduation. As they travel through different eras, they inadvertently bring figures such as Napoleon, Socrates, and Joan of Arc to modern-day California.
This cult time-travel comedy classic doubles as an introduction to a history class, transporting us from the dusty Wild West to the marble-white grandeur of ancient Greece. It packs its unwavering optimism about the world into a naïve, slapstick episodic adventure that feels more like a trip to Madame Tussauds than a real exploration of the past. The costumes are very well designed, though, and the film never pretends to be anything other than a fun, light-hearted romp.
From its suburban setting to the strip-mall musical montage, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure now looks and feels like a nice stop on a time-travelling journey through America’s past, as seen through the lens of the pop culture consumed by a couple of stoner best friends.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: Two dim-witted but enthusiastic high school friends travel through time in a phone booth to gather historical figures for their history presentation and save their future.
- Actors: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Terry Camilleri, Dan Shor, Tony Steedman, Rod Loomis, Al Leong, Jane Wiedlin, Robert V. Barron, Clifford David, Hal Landon Jr., Bernie Casey, Amy Stoch.
- Director: Stephen Herek
- Year: 1989
- Cinematographer: Tim Suhrstedt
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Genre: Comedy / Sci-Fi
