Movie Info
Movie Name: Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey
Studio: Nelson Entertainment
Genre(s): Comedy/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date(s): July 19, 1991
MPAA Rating: PG
Welcome to Hell, Ted!
Chuck De Nomolos (Joss Ackland) hates the future and blames Bill S. Preston (Alex Winter) and Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves) for issuing in a period of world peace through the music of their band Wyld Stallyns. Chuck is sending evil robot versions of Bill and Ted back in time to kill them and stop them from performing at the San Dimas Battle of the Bands. Bill and Ted find themselves having a most heinous day when they lose their girlfriends (Annette Azcuy and Sarah Trigger), have to challenge Death (William Sadler), and find a way to get back to life in order to save the future…BOGUS!
Directed by Pete Hewitt, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey is a sci-fi comedy. The film is a sequel to the surprise 1989 hit Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. The film had a small profit at the box office and mixed reviews with some reviews finding the second film better.
Right foot green!
Although I enjoyed Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, I was already over Bill & Ted by the time Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey was released. It took a while for me to see it, and I recall being underwhelmed by it. I guess I had already outgrown the characters…watching it years later, I think I carry this stigma toward it today.
As a story, the movie probably is better than the first movie, but it also feels like more of the same. The jokes are a lot more stale and other than some jokes involving the Grim Reaper’s lack of ability to play games (an ode to Bergman’s The Seventh Seal), the movie feels a bit tedious to watch…especially back-to-back with the first film.
It doesn’t help watching the movie now that both Bill and Ted are rather dated and kind of annoying. As a kid, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter did seem kind of cool if not fun-weird. I wish that the role of Rufus (played by George Carlin) had been boosted to help carry the movie more, but I did feel William Sadler was good as Death. I also felt the movie was lacking with less supporting characters like in the first Bill & Ted film.
We love you, San Dimas!
The movie feels very much like a movie from 1991. The effects and visuals aren’t very impressive. It is fun to go back and look at some of the clothing and styles, but things like Station the alien and other special effects look pretty weak.
Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey might be technically better, but for someone who saw the films when they were new, the Bogus Journey feels less fun. Since everything old is new again in Hollywood, Bill & Ted have been eyed for a sequel and Keanu and Alex are allegedly onboard. This might not be the worst idea and it could be interesting to see how the character’s fit in (or don’t fit in) to today’s society. As of now, however, there are no release plans for Bill & Ted 3…and I’m ok with that.
