The weirder and wylder sequel to the cult classic
The general rule of cinema is that a sequel will not top the original. Followups usually just rehash the original, which is why the rare exceptions to the rule, or at least those that can elicit arguments about the rankings, are ones that change things more dramatically or lean into a far more outlandish effort. Think the genre shift of the action fueled Aliens compared to the horror driven Alien, or the bonkers brilliance of Gremlins 2 The New Batch. Bogus Journey is more of the latter: a wacky, imaginative tale that takes bold narrative swings and solidifies the cult status of the leads and the series. Shout! Factory has followed up on their original Steel-book release for Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure with a companion release for this outlandish followup.
Synopsis:
Wyld Stallyns Ride Again! In Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, the titular time travelers aren’t making history — they are history! When an evil doer from the future sends eviler robot twins of Bill & Ted to assassinate and replace good, non-robot Bill & Ted, the guys wind up face to face with the Grim Reaper (William Sadler)! Can the now-dead duo escape, defeat their evil doppelgangers, and win their Battle of the Bands contest?
When you have a film like Excellent Adventure, one that stands out and integrates swiftly into pop culture and public consciousness, it would be pretty easy to churn out a followup. Time travel offers endless possibilities after all; who would blame filmmakers for skipping into the pair having to present an assignment (again) during their first year of college? Keep the affable characters and the basic outline, just change-up a few things for a new outing. Bless screenwriters Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, who, returning from penning the first film, boldly discard much of the time-traveling device in favor of something far more entertaining and ambitious, while channeling the overall vibe of the original. It’s a journey though heaven, hell, and everything in-between.
Opening in 27th century San Dimas, California, we get a better glimpse of this future utopia that owes its existence to the legacy of Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan. Retro-futuristic vibes, bold primary colors, massive hats and shoulder-pads, college classes taught by legendary figures plucked from the past. We meet De Nomolos (Joss Ackland), the former gym teacher of Rufus, the man who guided this motley pair in the first film, again portrayed by George Carlin. The years have not been kind, and have festered his revulsion at the blissful complacency of humanity. Now determined to upend this idyllic civilization and impose his own fascist ideals, he sends a pair of Bill & Ted replica robots back in time to kill their real life counterparts, replace them, and corrupt their legacy, ensuring his time is more suited to his vision.
While Excellent Adventure is perhaps best be described as a stoner comedy, these elements of Bogus Journey hint at an altogether darker affair — a coup in the future, the imposition of fascist rule, a successful (not really a spoiler) assassination attempt on our heroes, and a journey where they encounter their worst nightmares. But there are elements that balance this and turn the proceedings into an insane romp. Beating Death at Battleships, a malevolent Easter bunny, the devil, mugging people in heaven, Pam Grier, a supernatural possession, scientist aliens who at one point engage in an act that wouldn’t look out of place in a Cronenberg film, and even a rousing closing number courtesy of Kiss. Despite a huge amount of bonkers ideas and visuals, all the while, the film maintains a breezy feel.
The Wyld Stallyns remain the film’s core; you still have these endearing, if mildly vapid, guys fumbling their way through it all. Winters and Reeves maintain the synergy they had in the first, mental and physical, and even get to have even more fun this time out playing evil robot versions of themselves from the future. (Pretty similar, but with a healthy streak of murderous A-hole added.) The film’s secret weapon however is William Sadler (as he so often is in productions), whose Death begins as a ominous character, and through a delightful parody of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, comes into his own as a beautifully naive comedic foil. BEST THREE OUT OF FIVE!
The film works in some nice callbacks and connective themes to the first film too: Bill & Ted’s relationship with their fathers, the twins, and a now ongoing gag about Missy and her predilection for older men. Time-travel isn’t entirely dispensed with either; in addition to setting off this tale, it’s also used as something of a “get out of jail card” later in the film. Literally. It’s a pretty cheeky and endearing move, one that surely would unleash a temporal paradox, but here just adds to the irreverent air. For the most part, Bogus brazenly dispatches with time-traveling escapades for a more metaphysical journey, which if you overthink it has something of a Christ-like subtext. Death, resurrection, a series of trials, and a fulfilling of destiny to save mankind. But with a film where Death himself gets Melvined by two slackers, it’s probably best to not overthink it and just enjoy the absurdist ride, with two boys from California air-guitaring their way through these planes of existence.
The Package
The release presents a solid transfer of the film. Detail is good, processing is minimal with no damage or flaws evident. Blacks are solid and colors pop nicely, which is crucial for such a vibrant looking movie. What many collectors will be interested here is the Steel-book presentation, one that complements the version Shout! Factory put out for Excellent Adventure very nicely.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Actor Alex Winter And Producer Scott Kroopf: Having heard Winter talk at several Q&As, I dove into this one. It’s a great listen, with the pair reflecting on the film, its cult status, and various production details too.
- Audio Commentary With Writers Chris Matheson And Ed Solomon: Worth a listen, some little nuggets of information concerning how the pair decided to followup on Excellent Adventure.
- Bill & Ted Go To Hell — Revisiting A Bogus Journey, Featuring Interviews With Actors Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, And William Sadler, Producer Scott Kroopf, Production Designer David L. Snyder, Composer David Newman, and More!: Runs just under an hour, so manages to cram in quite a bit. The cast and crew share memories of the production, the lingo they use, and the enduring interest in the pair. It’s pretty joyous to see them all again and talking about the film.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Package
If you’re a fan of Bogus Journey, this is a no-brainer buy. Unfamiliar with the sequel? Rectify that immediately. It’s a brilliantly entertaining sequel, one that boldly abandons the formula that made its predecessor great, instead embracing offbeat ideas while never losing focus of this affable pair of misfits and the rapport between Winters and Reeves. Station!
Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey Steelbook Collector’s Edition is available via Shout! Factory from 20th November, 2018.