Review: ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music:’—a Compelling Story with Bone-Cracking Laughter

Some stories are such that they become a sequel, a trilogy, and a franchise. It is tough to have a success with these, as there is often more bad than good. Out of these films, one was “Bill & Ted’s” two-part film, which has got a great place in people’s hearts…with the news of its third part, to be released after almost 29 years, exciting fans. Due to the pandemic, the film was delayed and finally came out in August, 2020. 

The story starts in today’s times when Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are now in their 50s and married to the princesses that we see in the first part. Their daughters are named Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine). But the connections have gotten a bit bumpy, which leads them to go to couples therapy. Bill and Ted have concrete bonding, which we have seen in past films. The go together to couples therapy with their wives; and say ‘we’ instead of ‘I.’ Whatever one feels, so does the other one.

Later it turns out that Bill and Ted have run out of time to do what they need to do, informed of the same by Rufus (George Carlin in archive footage). They come across The Great Leader (Holland Taylor), who tells them to write the song that binds the whole universe together, otherwise, humanity will cease to exist. They start to witness it as particulars from the past are being erased in the present day, ripping apart the fabric of time.

Seeing the situation, the duo decides to go to the future to steal the song from themselves, which carries some funny sequences in which they meet future versions of themselves. They see in the future that they are alone and angry. They’re also going to lose their princess wives if they don’t change the current time at home.

Brigette Lundy-Paine, Kid Cudi, and Samara Weaving in “Bill & Ted Face the Music” (Hammerstone Studios, 2020).

In the meantime, their daughters travel back through time to assemble the ultimate band to perform the song and help their fathers save the day. They pick iconic figures like Louis Armstrong (Jeremiah Craft), Jimi Hendrix (DazMann Still), and Kid Cudi. Eventually, they come across Death and the robot Dennis Caleb McCoy (Anthony Carrigan). They converse with the bass-playing grim reaper /Death(William Sadler). He rejoins the band and helps them escape Hell, where there they find out if they are able to save the universe or not—they story is told with some great laughter.

Speaking of writing and direction, Dean Parisot doesn’t like a retro film in style or tone. He understands that time has passed, which the film is aware of; still, it feels like a film from a different era. Writers Chris Mattheson and Ed Solomon’s screenplay seems thoroughly contemporary and perfectly aligned with their earlier two parts. Unlike other series reboots, this third part doesn’t become sunk in self-referential instants and homages. It takes part more like an authentic sequel, made in the same style and spirit as its forerunner. 

The film’s strangest component is the showcase of time travel back to the late ‘80s. The struggling marriage narrative part gets a bit starch on screen time, which doesn’t work as the best material in the film. However, this is made up for with great humor and scenes.

The elderly and mature makeup materializes naturally on the two actors, chuckling about time’s passing. It is sentimental, but it’s also sweet. Keanu Reeves is outstanding as Ted, bringing the same fun and innocence, even in his older looks. Alex Winter, as Bill, is excellent with self-assuredness and light touch. Actresses Brigitte Lundy-Paine and Samara weaving as their daughters are perfect, and you can really see their father’s reflection in these roles. The rest of the cast act fine, helping to make it a fun story to watch.

“Bill & Ted Face the Music” is bracingly earnest. It doesn’t feel like a skeptical attempt to reprocess material and presents a convincing story. The film is a diverse and politically precise mainstream refreshment. Simultaneously, we are all stuck and worried about the current pandemic; this film is a great watch over the weekend to laugh with loved ones and encounter nostalgic feelings. You can rent or buy a movie from FandangoNow, iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, and Google Play.