There are so many franchises that have been revisited in the past few years that have absolutely no business doing so. Upon my first notice that Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter would be reviving some certain beloved 80s characters into a modern-day setting, I was strongly against it for obvious, nostalgic reasons, but I am so glad that this film turned out to be one of the most genuinely heartwarming and giddy movies of this year so far. Bill & Ted Face the Music is an excellent conclusion (?) to this trilogy and one that expertly matches the awkward chaos of the original movies. From the fantastic goofiness that radiates from the story to the chemistry between the leads that never falters, there is so much to love about this movie and I am overjoyed that it never ventured into being too overly cheesy. This is already hard to do, though, given the lovable nature of all of these films and as long as you know what you are getting into, it's difficult not to enjoy yourself.
After their first two adventures almost three decades ago, slacker-rockers Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are grown up and have become middle-aged fathers to their daughters Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine). When they are informed that the fate of the universe and time itself rests in their hands, they set out to create the "perfect song" that will be able to save and unite all of reality: no big deal. So many soft reboots or sequels that are released nowadays have the tendency to take themselves way too seriously or even not seriously enough. Treading that thin ice is something that filmmakers often have to do but director Dean Parisot does it elegantly. This third installment into the Bill & Ted franchise is exactly what I, and many others I assume, wanted it to be. This film takes everything that the original movie did so well in terms of balancing its sci-fi lunacy with lovable comedy and continues it in the greatest ways possible. The script by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon is just absolutely wonderful and the development of these two characters is exactly what I had been expecting. Parisot nails keeping the tone the same from the first two and really the only difference, besides the 29-year time gap, is how great the visual effects look. The story is always dependent on the humor and likability of these characters but the introduction into the 21st-century is also great to look at. The sci-fi elements of this movie, although never truly logical or easy-to-follow, are great, and placing Bill and Ted into this new world of technology and CGI never appeared too corny, which I very much enjoyed. Along with the re-introduction of these characters in the modern world, the music throughout this film is just spectacular. Rock music has been an integral part of these characters since the beginning and Parisot is able to keep that energy alive to really just make this movie so, so, so much fun.
I think what is so effective about the memorability of the humor from these films is how they unabashedly explain nothing. The plots of these movies could have been written by a rambling five-year-old but throwing in the fantastically-written dialogue and interactions between these ludicrous characters makes it that much better. It is obviously clear to see how passionate Reeves and Winter are about these characters and I'm certain that bringing them back meant so much to them personally. Not only was it exciting for them but it was exciting for audiences as well to see them embody Bill and Ted to a tee yet again. They might be thirty years older, but the performances from these two continue to be hilarious and their awkward, chaotic chemistry together will honestly never die. While they were both fantastic in this film, I actually found the true standouts to be Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine. Lundy-Paine is hilarious as Ted's daughter Billie and Weaving is just as fantastic as Bill's daughter Thea. They are both pitch-perfect representations of how these characters' daughters might actually be and they bring their own, innocent energy that was nothing short of adorable. I have adored Weaving in so many of her different roles as of late but Lundy-Paine very much impressed me. I loved how this film also focuses on a theme of almost passing the torch and the conclusion sets that up incredibly well. The shifted focus on Thea and Billie was incredibly cute and I could not help but fall in love with them. I'm not ashamed to say that I got genuinely emotional at the end of this film after the relationships between Bill and Ted and their daughters were fully explored and I also thank my nostalgia for that. Nostalgia obviously plays a big role in this film because, without any prior knowledge of these characters or their wacky misadventures, anyone would be rightfully confused. But despite my existing love for these films, Bill and Ted Face the Music still made me feel wholesome and smile like a complete idiot.
Bill & Ted Face the Music is a brilliant addition to this franchise that proves no matter the time gap, Reeves and Winter continue to bring something new and special to these unforgettable characters. Parisot's direction might have hit every beat that one would have expected and the script is never anything too profound but c'mon... it's Bill and Ted. Sometimes a movie exists only to make its audiences feel absolutely delightful amidst a reality of pain and suffering and I am so glad that I was able to go into this cinematic reality once again.
My Rating: ★★★★
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