Beavis and Butthead Do America (1996) / Comedy-Animation

MPAA Rated: PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language, and a drug-related scene
Running Time: 81 min.

Cast (voices): Mike Judge, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Robert Stack, Cloris Leachman, Eric Bogosian
Small role (voices): David Letterman, Richard Linklater, Greg Kinnear, David Spade
Director: Mike Judge
Screenplay: Mike Judge, Joe Stillman
Review published March 9, 1998

Based on the MTV television series, whereby two teenage metal-heads named Beavis and Butthead watch music videos and act like dumb-asses throughout their low-class neighborhood, Beavis and Butthead puts the duo on the road across the United States.  Although out of their element from watching music videos, some good laughs and a decent storyline makes this surprisingly amusing fare much of the way.  Lots of funny situations and celebrity voice acting, plus the fact that creator Mike Judge (Office Space, Idiocracy) actually tried to make a decent movie, should please the show's fans and possibly gain them new ones.

As for the plot, Beavis and Butthead are astonished to find someone has stolen their much prized television. They search everywhere for it, and are mistaken for a couple of hit men hired by an alcoholic womanizer (Willis, Twelve Monkeys) to "do" (i.e. kill) his wife (Moore, A Few Good Men). Mistaking "do" for "have sex with", the duo readily agree, and they will be getting $10,000 to boot which would help them get a new TV. They also get involved in a nefarious plot to spread a deadly virus, making them wanted by the FBI.

Beavis and Butthead Do America is actually a pleasant surprise since it could easily have been rather poor, but don't expect a good movie here, as it's still nothing more than a collection of amusing moments and funny situations involving mistaken identities. The plot is similar to many films in the past, particularly French comedies with role reversing and bumbling protagonists, but given the nature of the two characters it still works in a fresh way.  Don't expect much more than some good belly laughs every once in a while and you won't be disappointed.  Beavis and Butthead is fun, lowbrow goofiness. .

Qwipster's rating: 

©1998 Vince Leo