‘Bill & Ted: Face The Music’ – Review
Keanu reeves and Alex Winter are back to rock ‘n’ roll as Theodore “Ted” Logan and William S. “Bill” Preston, Esq. and after 29 years they’re finally going to have to face their destiny and actually the unite the world in Bill & Ted: Face The Music….before it’s too late.
Now enduring the monotony of middle-aged life, William “Bill” S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) and Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves) are warned by a visitor from the future of the need for them to create a song in 78 minutes that will save all life on Earth and the entire universe. The pair work with their families, old friends, famous musicians, and each other to complete the task.
Director Dean Parisot picks up where Bill and Ted left off over 29 years later and answers the question? What the hell happened to these two guys! In short, not a lot really, and now facing middle age and considerable burnout, along with the inevitable family problems that come with it, Bill and Ted find themselves pretty stuck. Until destiny comes calling for them, and they finally have to wake up to their responsibilities to save time and space itself. Parisot keeps things light and fresh and the film’s innovative narrative and plot framing allows him to tell this crazy, fun story and keep things moving. There’s a natural exposition to the film, and whether you’re new to Bill & Ted or returning to catch up with the Wyld Stallyns you’ll enjoy what comes next.
As for Bill and Ted themselves, Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves pick up right where they left off and the two of them sure are having a blast. Both easily step back into their characters and have the same fantastic sense of dynamic energy that they first showed off back in 1989, but here it gets extended out to middle age and you get a new sense for who these characters have become. As Bill and Ted, Winter and Reeves go through a range of emotions and considerable transformation due to the film’s time-travelling plot devices and it’s obvious that the two of them were having fun with this one. While they still have a long way to go to become the heroes they were supposed to be, Winter and Reeves do get there in the end, and there are some hilarious surprises along the away.
Adding to the fun of Bill & Ted: Face The Music, and bringing a fantastic sense of millennial energy to the narrative is the duo’s daughter’s Theadora “Thea” Preston (Samara Weaving) and Wilhelmina “Billie” Logan (Brigette Lundy-Paine). The characters of Thea and Billie are a hilarious addition to the film and ate almost the carbon copies of their dads’ thanks to their obsession for music and their track remixing genius. Both Weaving and Lundy-Paine brilliantly play off of each other, along with Reeves and Winter, and they keep things interesting and entertaining while taking this story in a brand new direction.
In terms of the viewing experience, Bill & Ted: Face The Music is a sheer celebration of creativity and the power of music to bring people together. The film’s narrative, which is devoted to saving not only the world but the entire universe along with all of time and space, runs fast and keeps you amped at every turn thanks to some surprise character appearances and plenty of laugh-out-loud comedy. In watching this movie you truly feel that everyone who was involved with it was having the time of their lives making it, and this energy and enthusiasm shines through in the final print.
From beginning to end, Bill & Ted: Face The Music is just a fun time out at the movies, and anyone lucky enough to see it in cinemas will be in for a real treat. Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves truly give it there all with this one, and completely party on here.
Image: MadMan Films
