'Bill & Ted Face the Music' Review
PG-13: Some Language
Runtime: 1 Hr and 31 Minutes
Production Companies: Orion Pictures, Hammerstone Studios, Tin-Rez Entertainment
Distributor: United Artists Releasing
Director: Dean Parisot
Writers: Chris Matheson, Ed Solomon
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Kristen Schaal, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Anthony Carrigan, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, Holland Taylor, Kid Cudi, William Sadler, Jillian Bell
Release Date: August 28, 2020
The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William "Bill" S. Preston Esq. and Theodore "Ted" Logan. Yet to fulfill their rock and roll destiny, the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it. Along the way, they will be helped by their daughters, a new batch of historical figures, and a few music legends to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony to the universe.
Sequels for hit properties that take ages to come to fruition — sequels we waited nearly 20+ years for — often end up being direct retreads of the original film (Force Awakens), downright lazy and painful (Dumb and Dumber To, any Hangover sequel), or simply forgettable (Tron: Legacy). Therefore, Bill & Ted Face the Music was trailed by huge uncertainty since it was impossible to predict which bracket it would fall under. To my surprise, Bill & Ted Face the Music is a fun, hilarious, and endlessly charming third entry to an excellent franchise that retains the silly and chaotic spirit of its predecessors.
It’s been 25 years since action star/Internet boyfriend Keanu Reeves and documentary filmmaker Alex Winter revisited these roles and they still capture the same infectious chemistry that made everyone fall in love with them in the first place. They still do their energetic Valley Boy mannerisms, finish each other’s sentences, and deliver dialogue in their classic Bill and Ted surfer bro voices. In any other franchise, it would be considered gimmicky, but with Bill and Ted, it feels like watching two old cowboys get back on the saddles.
One frustrating trope of long-awaited sequels is that they set the lead characters down the same path as before, not progressing as characters and experiencing the same arc once again. However, this trope makes sense for Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan. These two were established as lovable, dopey clowns and that’s what they will always be. So, to see them as middle-aged disillusioned has-beens who peaked in their youth and haven’t fulfilled their purpose isn’t much of a stretch.
Thanks to the return of screenwriters/creators Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, the film thrives with the best ingredient that has remained consistent throughout the franchise: charm. Bill and Ted have so much love for each other and everyone they interact with, so you can’t help but smile, especially when they reunite with familiar faces such as Death and Bill’s dad. Matheson and Solomon’s screenplay continues the on-brand chaotic energy as they set every major character on their own adventure while tying up some loose ends, resulting in heartwarming scenes while adding a ton of fresh, inventive ideas to close out the trilogy in a heartfelt manner. Watching Matheson and Solomon breathe life into their characters again is equivalent to the scene in Toy Story 3 where Andy plays with his toys for the last time.
I expected the humor to take a meta/cynical approach because that’s what every modern sequel/reboot does, but thankfully that’s not the case with B&TFTM. The tone is lighthearted and the comedy is straightforward; they don’t make any tongue-in-cheek jokes about the updated CG effects during time travel sequences or break the fourth wall. Hell, they even dropped that one recurring homophobic joke. Like its predecessors, the film delivers light humor that is reliant on banter between Bill and Ted and their interactions with other quirky characters. Given that this is a product of the ‘90s, it somehow manages to feel timeless. Bill and Ted are funny on their own without having to make pop culture references or commentary on contemporary times.
The supporting cast is a blast as well, for they add to the sweet-natured madness that occurs. This film has a varied cast ranging from returning cast members, a few replacements, and some new faces. The new faces make a valiant impression, such as Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine as Bill and Ted’s daughters, Thea and Billie. I’d love to see them go on their own adventures if they end up holding the mantle of the franchise. Kristen Schaal is a great new addition with her own little c-plot, Anthony Carrigan (who’s hilarious on Barry) plays a robot with an identity crisis, and Kid Cudi plays himself as being scientifically profound. There's so much variety and it’s hella fun.
While Face the Music has a ton of chaotic energy and upbeat performances by the entire ensemble, the film’s story is way too convoluted for its own good, especially when it’s working with a 90-minute runtime. While Bogus Journey had a crazy narrative, it was relatively focused on following one major idea. In Face the Music, everyone related to Bill and Ted gets their own time-traveling adventure. Even though it opens one too many tabs to maintain a cohesive thread, it is elevated by the lighthearted and energetic execution.
While the film intends to resemble the previous films stylistically, a few touch-ups could’ve been called for in certain areas. The shot composition is far too awkward as it features too many odd closeups and reaction shots. I know this film had a low budget, but the predecessor had to deal with Bill and Ted interacting with themselves in the same shot, which was done seamlessly. In Face the Music, they often cut back and forth between the two actors as they deliver their lines. When more characters appear and the cast is enlarged, the scope of the lens becomes smaller. The camera keeps everything up close while the madness escalates in the background. The only time they really play with the scope is when the characters arrive in Hell.
As chaotic as the plot is, the story itself is predictable. That being said, what it lacks in surprise it makes up for with sweetness. Compensation is the recurring theme of this review because, for every element that Bill and Ted Face the Music falls short in, it makes up for in another area that elevates the entire experience. Bill and Ted Face the Music may not be excellent, but it is far from bogus. It’s a charming, sweet-natured sci-fi romp that fans of the series will fall in love with and it makes for a perfect sequel to watch with your whole family. Yeah, if it wasn’t for the fact that the characters end up in Hell (under a 2020 MPAA), this would’ve been a PG-rated movie. It’s very much a family picture for just about everyone.
Rating: 3.5/5 | 75%
