Beavis and Butt-Head Do America

“UH-HUH. HUH-HUH. When intrepid adolescent heroes Beavis and Butt-Head wake up to find their beloved television stolen, they embark on an epic journey across America to recover it, and perhaps even score. On the way they encounter a murderous smuggler and his treacherous wife, an FBI agent with a predilection for cavity searches, a couple of rather familiar-looking roadies, a little old lady, Mr. Anderson (and his trailer), and Mr. Van Dreesen singing “Lesbian Seagull.” It’s an insanely-epic, big-screen box office hit, finally on Blu-ray for its 25^th Anniversary!”

Love it or leave it, Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head had major cultural significance during the height of its popularity in the 90s with the MTV generation as it pushed the boundaries of television. Packed with social commentary, most likely lost on the droves of people who protested against its crude nature, it spoke volumes on the type of content being released at the time, in a world centered around television that was becoming more and more widespread. For a duo who spent the majority of their screen-time planted on a couch, the pinnacle of their story culminates in a journey (because of the theft of their television) that spans the country, filled with murder, espionage, and a substantial absence of ‘scoring’.

As a kid growing up in the 90s, glued to the television like everyone else, Beavis and Butt-Head never appealed to me. It wasn’t because I wasn’t allowed to watch it, as was the situation with many of my friends, it was because that type of humor just didn’t appeal to me at the time, and I was not mentally qualified to understand the type of commentary it was trying to get across at that age. As an adult, those messages are clearer than ever, and while our society has generally moved past the witch-hunt against violence in television and video games (because let’s face it, there are far worse things out there these days), the show really hit hard against letting television parent your children, while exploring the nuances of two idiots who have the combined brain power of a bean.

What makes the film so much more successful and that much more groundbreaking in the messages it wants to convey is the fact that these two characters now have free reign across the country. The situations they find themselves in because of their naivety, or honestly, stupidity, are quite funny. Seeing these situations from their perspective of not understanding anything that’s happening around them, with their focus being solely on finding a television or ‘scoring’ with anyone possible somehow exudes an innocence that you can’t help but admire. Their journey that leads them across the country is all about a promise of being able to ‘do’ the wife of Muddy Grimes, an arms dealer who mistakes them for hitmen as they wander into his hotel room in search of the inexplicable allure of television programming. Is it because their motivations are so simple and basic, while everyone around them either takes advantage of them or mistakes them for criminal masterminds, that this is such an endearing story? It’s hard to say, but when you have critics like Roger Ebert who said “Those who deplore Beavis and Butt-Head are confusing the messengers with the message” and understands and promotes Mike Judge’s commentary on a wide array of growing issues in the younger generation, you can quickly get behind the story, the characters, and enjoy the story.

Mike Judge does it all here, and with the success of his others shows like King of the Hill, and films like Office Space and Idiocracy, there is an appetite for this kind of humor and self-reflection that is eager to see more, and is desperately needed today. With Beavis & Butt-Head announcing their new film to be released on Paramount+ at some future date, this is a great release to get excited for what’s in store!

Video

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. This animated film has very well-defined lines, with a clear and detailed picture. In keeping with the style of the show, colors aren’t overly bright and vivid, but still look exceptional on this high definition transfer.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The track sounds really good here. Granted, you’ll be hearing a lot of dialogue and muttering from Beavis and Butt-Head, but the score makes great use of the surrounds.

Special Features

The set comes with a Digital Code, as well as a nice helping of extras, which include:

• Commentary by Mike Judge and Yvette Kaplan
• The Big Picture
• We’re Gonna Score! Scoring Beavis Butt-Head Do America
• The Smackdown
• MTV News: Celebrity Shorts
• Trailers
• TV Spots

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America is long overdue on Blu-ray, and with a low starting price point, this is a great thing to grab for fans, or even if you’re first-time viewers and want to give it a shot. Looking forward to see what’s in store for these two on their next adventure on Paramount+!