Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​‘You must play me again.’
‘WHAT!?’
‘Um, best two out of three.’
‘No way!’
‘Yes way.’
- Death and Bill S. Preston (Esq.) and Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan

​The day that we finally head out into the world, is a special day indeed. Simply because it means we are truly an adult at last and in theory we are absolutely ready to take on any challenge that the world throws our way. Because we are educated and strong and most important of all, we are armed with a plan. One that will guide us toward a wonderful and sustaining career and that in turn, will set up our future. The kind that will include a partner in crime that we love to no end, and eventually we will settle down with that person inside of our magnificent home because that’s the American way and that’s how life is supposed to go, and it doesn’t take long for us to realize; that such a particular vision of the future is downright wrong and silly. 
 
Because life is in fact, a roller coaster ride when we leave home. One where there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding our future and it is also filled with hardships and pain as we begin to grow older. The kind that quite frankly, help us to understand that life is going to be difficult and wrought with all kinds of challenges, which is why motion pictures and storytelling in general try and steer clear of that harsh reality. So that they can keep the sense of escapism that comes with storytelling intact. But once in a while, a story comes along that is not only brave enough to tackle what kinds of difficulties in life we are going to face, but it does so in a lighthearted and entertaining manner. Which makes Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey an outright philosophical masterpiece, since it accomplishes those respective goals while offering up a fascinating exploration on how best to handle the many challenges that will come our way. 
 
A feat that it accomplishes by looking at three key elements about life in general, the first of which is perhaps the most obvious; that it is hard from the get-go, and we won’t be where we want to be right away. Because despite the fact that we are ready to jump into our respective career field or dream job, the world isn’t quite ready to accept us into those respective environments. Which means we have to start somewhere we don't like in order to get along, and that means we will be scraping by in those early days whilst we put our future together. Yet while that sounds awful and annoying, and downright frustrating since we fail during this phase of our lives, the movie does take the time to remind us to embrace the moment and the good surrounding us when we are here in this particular pit stop. Because that’s what will keep us going as we fight the good fight.

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​Yet what’s truly fascinating about watching Bill and Ted languish in a place where their music doesn’t mean everything to the world just yet, is that along the way they are also forced to learn another important lesson that we all must, at some point or another. In that, in order to find the success, we so desperately seek, we must become masters at our craft. Which means we will have to work for endless hours at our skill and hone it to damn near perfection. So that when our moment arrives, we are seasoned and ready, or in some cases, appear akin to a prodigy and once we reach that point the sky will indeed become the limit. Yet as an added bonus to this exploration, the story digs a little deeper and reminds those who wish to make an impact on the world through art, to live their life to the fullest. Because art without experience has less meaning than one might like and what Bill and Ted go through in this film, gives them just that.
 
Because they face every struggle one can possibly imagine over the course of this film. And they are even forced to deal with all the difficult parts of life in a matter of minutes in some cases and really, this part of the story is where the movie reaches its most philosophical points. For it really does take the time to point out that while these hardships are difficult on all of us, and put us through the emotional ringer, how we respond to them is what matters the most. For if we let the pain, they produce take hold of our souls and infect us, then we become shells of our former selves and get lost in the mix. But if we see these moments as learning opportunities and use them to grow, then we will accomplish wonders and in the case of art… create something powerful that can help others in their time of need. Something that makes this story a tad meta when you ponder upon that implication and really, it’s quite amazing to find this much depth and philosophy in a sequel where full on robot chubbies are discussed.
 
But that’s the magic of this franchise. Because it finds ways to examine segments of our lives as Bill and Ted grow and that undoubtedly means that Bill & Ted Face the Music will likely follow in this motion picture’s footsteps and be as brilliant and as deep and likely as hilarious as well. For Bogus Journey is just as powerfully funny as its predecessor. In fact, it’s actually funnier at times, courtesy of the addition as William Sadler as Death and by allowing for Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves to play evil robot versions of Bill and Ted and really, this is just a perfect sequel. Because not only does it up the ante and raise the stakes, but it holds nothing back in the messages that it wishes to explore and it inspires the audience to be excellent to each other and to chase their dreams, and you really cannot go wrong with a story that asks you face your fears and your pain, because you can in fact, handle such matters no problem. And it should be fascinating to see how the next chapter in this saga goes, now that we know that Bill and Ted’s journey here, didn’t quite end as happy as it was implied at the end of this particular tale.

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