Bill & Ted Face the Music is all over the place, but at its core is a father daughter tale with the right amount of silliness – something that is surely needed right now.
What’s Bad About Bill & Ted Face the Music
The faults of Face the Music were to be expected. It’s repetitive – there are a lot of scenes of Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) talking to their respective future selves. The CG and extensive use of green screen is suspect and passable at best.
But you know what? I don’t think we expected a nuanced Sorkin screenplay or Industrial Light & Magic caliber effects. What the movie certainly has a ton of, which you cannot put a price on, is good will.
What’s Good About Bill & Ted Face the Music
The reason audiences liked Bill and Ted’s bodacious bromance 30 years ago was their friendship. Two guys, utterly oblivious to everything else around them, who were in the thick of it for each other. 30 years later, those qualities have not been lost on them. More importantly they’re dads now, and good dads at that. Bill & Ted Face the Music is a family story. A story of two fathers passing the baton (or guitar pick) to their two daughters.
Samara Weaving, who plays Bill’s daughter Thea, and Brigette Lundy-Paine, who plays Ted’s daughter Billie, are certainly excellent in their roles. They’re tasked with rounding up important figures from history, like their fathers had done once before them, and they do it with just as much charm and charisma. I’d love to follow them on future adventures.
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Other key stand outs are the return of Death (William Sadler) and a new mercenary robot named Dennis Caleb McCoy; both provide plenty of laughs. This movie does exactly what a good sequel should – it honors its past, yet looks forward.
All We Need is Love
In the end, Face the Music exemplifies the power music has in unifying people. It’s about family values – raising your kids to be kind hearted, empathetic, and loyal to whom they’re close to. Yes, it’s a goofy, uneven comedy, but it hits all the right notes. As we live in a world that is currently so chaotic, a movie like this can be an unexpected bright light. We should all heed the words of William S. Preston, Esq., “Be excellent to each other.”
Bill & Ted Face the Music is now in theaters and available on VOD. Let us know what you think of their most recent, excellent adventure!
KEEP READING: “THE BEGINNING OF THE END” FOR BILL AND TED IN WILD NEW WEEZER MUSIC VIDEO
