 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
- Review Date: March 19, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 1989
Common Sense Media says
Silly time-capsule comedy ideal for older tweens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Bill and Ted are slackers, have no respect for authority, and actively disobey their parents. But the tone is still very lighthearted and the characters seem to have the best intentions during their adventures through time. There is some comic violence and, appropriately, the Dark Ages is where the duo encounters the most life-threatening -- but still comic -- situations. Girls are treated as sex objects to the point that Rufus gives the boys two girls they met in Medieval England as a reward for passing their history test.
What's the story?
Slacker teens Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are more intent on landing Eddie Van Halen for their band Wyld Stallions than making it through high school. But if the boys don't get an A+ on their history report, they'll flunk out of school and Ted will be on his way to military school in Alaska. Knowing only that Napoleon is "a short, dead dude," and guessing that Joan of Arc is "Noah's wife," the boys seem to be lost -- until a visitor from the future, Rufus (the perfectly cool George Carlin), appears in a magical phone booth to allow them to experience history first hand. They hatch a plan: Bring historical figures back and let them experience San Dimas -- and then take them to class. The plan goes perfectly, including a run-in at the mall, arrests, and other ensuing silliness.
Is it any good?
There are some movies that are irresistible junk food for the brain: they are short, sweet and so entertaining you want to watch them over and over again. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is one of those. It's a bonbon of a film, full of good looking, sweet scenes that make you feel giddy.
The great thing about the film is that it's perfectly paced and perfectly acted. Say what you will about Keanu Reeve's wooden acting skills -- it takes a certain level of brilliance to come up with a character who is both maddeningly dumb and completely lovable. And there are other great scenes. Released on a modern mall, the historical characters act out. Joan of Arc rallies the troupes of an aerobics class. Billy the Kidd turns out to be a bad flirt. And with one tilt of his corndog, Sigmund Freud is proven to be a perv. It's delightfully silly and imminently watchable.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how to balance creative pursuits like music with good school work. If you had a time machine, what time periods would you visit? Who would you want to visit and why? Do you think the historical figures in the film really would have reacted the way they did? Would Joan of Arc, for instance, become an aerobics instructor?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 15 years old
February 3, 2011
AGE
Sparse language, but even then it's still fine for a wide variety of ages.
I loved this movie! I laughed all the way through the movie. Sure there's a few times where d--k and d--kweed are used, but otherwise there really isn't anything wrong with this movie. Two friends who are failing high school must complete a report to save their grades. So what do they do? Take a time machine into the past and bring important historical figures back with them... what could go wrong? Well... a lot can, and does. The way Bill and Ted solve every problem they come across will have you rolling on the floor with laughter. One last thing before I go: "Be excellent to each other!" Ha ha watch the movie you'll understand!
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
January 11, 2009
AGE
This is a dorcy non funny atempt to be funny. the comedy is dumb and kinda out dated and the acting is sloppy and the plot is just plain stuiped
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Kid, 9 years old
November 29, 2009
AGE
a very good movie
one of my favorite movie ever.
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Teen, 15 years old
June 25, 2010
AGE
:D
Great Movie! Some mild language. Such as the S-word. But, other than that... Great!
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Kid, 10 years old
July 9, 2010
AGE
HALIRIOUS!!!!!
a very funny movie. some minor language such as the s-word f*g is once used napolen says the s-word about 7 times as comdy effect. some very mild sexual reffrences in most scenes with bills mum they both stare at her at some point in the scene. a man is shot in the foot(brief). a funny movie 10+
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Parent of 8 and 13 year old
July 7, 2010
AGE
Harmless fun...dude.
Both of my children enjoyed this movie. It's silly and relatively harmless (minor language issues) ...and the kids may actually learn something! Those children familiar with the historic characters depicted really connect!
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Teen, 13 years old
December 20, 2009
AGE
awesome
THIS MOVIE IS MOST OUTSTANDING.
THE SEQUEL IS EVEN BETTER.
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Teen, 14 years old
October 9, 2010
AGE
You really need to be iffy because of curse words.
When Bill and Ted were going in a loop de loop, the said a curse word called s--t. I really should not use words like that in school or else I'll get in huge trouble.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
HAHA! So funny!
Boy, if you havent seen Bill & Ted movies you are missing out. They are so oblivous that they dont know how funny they are. These guys go to the past to pick up history characters to laern about for their high shcool project. I wish I could do this! They talk about the Iron Maiden like it is a rock band instead of an old torture thing. You will like this movie no matter who you are!
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Kid, 12 years old
April 12, 2011
AGE
Doctor Who spoof with idiotic teens is only just worth a watch
Dorky teen movie has a few decent moments that make it okay. Apart from the silly sexual stuff and the rude language this movie contains some educational parts but the main characters spend their time killing most of it with the idiotic behaviour.
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| Topics: | adventures, friendship, high school, history |
| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Stephen Herek |
| Cast: | Alex Winter, George Carlin, Keanu Reeves |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 90 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 17, 1989 |
| DVD release date: | December 4, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild violence and some sexuality |
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