FILM REVIEW: "Bill and Ted Face the Music" is most excellent
In the lighter days of 1989, Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson penned Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, a light-hearted comedy about two extremely positive yet underachieving high school students who travel through time to study for their history exam. Soon after, they penned the 1991 sequel, Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, where the titular duo must escape from hell and stop robot doppelgängers from sabotaging their band’s concert. And now, in 2020, they've penned Bill and Ted Face the Music.
30 years after they were told their band, Wyld Stallions, would create a song that would unite the world, Bill and Ted are still struggling musically. With time of the essence, and the futures galactic leaders losing hope, Bill and Ted set off on a bogus adventure to find the inspiration for their hit song.
In these dark and depressing times; Solomon & Mathesons light-hearted comedy about optimistic heroes saving the world through positivity and unity is incredibly welcome. Not to mention that our titular duo are played by the extremely lovable Alex Winter (The Lost Boys) and everybody’s husband, Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, John Wick), who are equally hilarious, wholesome, and every part as Bill and Ted as they were in 1989. As per usual, Bill and Ted encounter various significant historical figures, fight dastardly foes (notably Anthony Carrigan as the hilarious Evil Killbot who suffers from anxiety and guilt that he's not doing his job well), and in some of the franchises funniest moments, meet various evil versions of themselves.
In line with most modern sequels, there is a passing of the torch, however, the recipients have rarely been as lovable; Bill and Ted's daughters, Billie and Theo (Ready or Not's Samara Weaving and Atypical's Bridgette Lundy-Paine), who channel their fathers’ positivity with respectable charisma.
Despite the heavy sci-fi elements, don't expect award-winning special effects from Bill and Ted Face The Music. The Bill and Ted Franchise has always walked a thin line between shlock and cult, the cheese is part of the charm, and in any lesser film, this would be a detriment as many of the special effects and set designs already look outdated.
In a world of sequels and reboots, Bill and Ted feel fresh and welcome. It captures the charm and optimism of its predecessors, whilst moving forward with its characters and story, thrusting them into unforeseen adventures.
It's difficult to put into words the sheer joy of Bill and Ted Face the Music. Not only is it a fantastic return for these beloved characters, it is also a beacon of light in these dark times; a message of positivity and kindness in the face of inevitable doom. If we all gather together in the ways that Bill and Ted unite history, art and culture, we might be able to avoid future catastrophes. Though we are all facing the music this year, remember to be excellent to each other.