Anthony's Film Review - Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)

The movie might look stupid, but you'll be very surprised by how funny it really is...

If there's one thing that is detrimental to society, it's stupidity. However, if there's one thing that people in society consider funny, it's stupidity. It's no wonder that people can complain about idiots but can never escape their presence. This is probably why Beavis and Butt-Head, an animated TV series on the cable channel MTV, was a success. I did not watch the show before this movie, but I can tell you that it's not necessary. Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, a feature-length movie with these two boneheads, is downright funny even for those who aren't fans of the show.

Because the entertainment mainly lies in the mindless and stupid things these two guys say and do, you probably don't need a plot. At the same time, having a plot makes it a lot more interesting. You can now have Beavis and Butt-Head on some kind of adventure and laugh at how they approach problems that come their way. That's where the laughs come from. Just about everything they do is contrary to what a more intelligent person would do. Plus, they are easily amused by dirty things, like vultures mating and donkeys defecating.

I won't really describe the plot or the trip they take, but I will mention how it starts. Basically, their television set gets stolen. Yes, that is the event that launches the plot. It's not anything valuable like jewelry, treasure, or money. It's just a TV set. But for these two guys, it's their lifeline. Television is what they live for. That and trying to score with babes.

I cannot recall how many times I laughed during the movie, but it's a large number. I can remember several good scenes, including Beavis acting like a terrorist on a plane, Butt-Head doing something to see if a guy in sunglasses is really blind, and an exaggerated flatulent joke in a desert. And you gotta love the way Beavis and Butt-Head continuously laugh at everything, especially things that sound remotely sexual. I also recall the scene where Butt-Head sees something labeled "master station control" and reads it as "masturbation."

For a movie that is almost one and a half hours long, the laughs are plenty. Mike Judge did a great job with writing and directing this movie, not to mention providing the voices of the two main characters. Interestingly, he voices a few other characters, including Tom Anderson, who has the exact same voice as Hank Hill from the TV show King of the Hill, a subsequent Mike Judge creation. It's too bad that Beavis and Butt-Head didn't have another movie immediately after this one. Then again, if I ever have to deal with idiots, I wouldn't be complaining. I would simply be laughing.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, visit the Internet Movie Database.

In addition, check out my review of the original TV show Beavis and Butt-Head.