 It had been a while since the last time I saw the first two 'Bill & Ted' movies, so I started this week getting into things, and getting ready for this review. I won't get into that much, but if you want some basic plot, here are some Wiki shortcuts for 'Excellent Adventure' and 'Bogus Journey'. I wanted to refresh myself on the events of both films. They are products of their time, not to be taken seriously, and it's mindless fun with a positive message (even if they do both use a derogatory F-word for laughs). So, flawed, but somehow one still finds a genuine charm to these guys, keeping in mind that again, these are products of their time.
'Face the Music' takes place present day (without Coronavirus), several years after Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) took their Bogus Journey. The Wyld Stallyns (their band) have reached a low-point in their career, having failed to write the song that would unite the world. They both find themselves at odds with their respective significant others, Medieval Princesses Joanna (Jayma Mays) and Elizabeth (Erinn Hayes), and a bad performance at Ted's little brother's wedding leads to Ted confiding in Bill that maybe their futures aren't set in stone, and it's time to hang up their guitars. Soon after, they are visited by Kelly (Kristen Schaal), Rufus' daughter (Rufus played by the late great George Carlin, and yes, there's a nice nod to him here). Kelly takes Bill and Ted to meet her Mother, The Great Leader (Holland Taylor) who gives the duo a limited amount of time to write their world-uniting song, and in true 'Bill & Ted' style, it's just something you roll with despite the gaping plot hole that they gain access to their old phone booth time machine and have all the time in the world. The Great Leader also believes that this whole unity of society prophecy could actually mean the death of Bill and Ted, so she sends a robot (Anthony Carrigan) back in time to kill them, 'Terminator' style. The thing is, the robot keeps messing it up, and it's actually pretty hilarious. Meanwhile, Bill and Ted's respective daughters, Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) end up fulfilling their end of the story by wanting to help their Dads with Kelly's assistance, jumping through time to gather some more musically inclined historical figures, and harkening back to the original film with a couple of fresh, new, female Bill & Teds. They do not take the movie over, help the story along, and are incredibly well cast (especially Billie, who brings a real oldschool Keanu-ism to her role). The film has a good balance of both duos each doing their respective thing. Anyway, if this big mission isn't accomplished, time and space will collapse in on itself. So, weird, right? Well, part of the charm of 'Bill & Ted' is that it IS simply ridiculous fun, not to read too deeply into; stupid, but entertaining all the same. I would daresay that of the three films, and believe me, I KNOW this is gonna sound like blasphemy to many, this one might be my favorite - mere opinion, and it's recognizable that I'll probably be an odd one out on this. But my reasons are a bit deeper than one might imagine. Bill and Ted's original message of "be excellent to each other, and party on" is kinda what this one is all about. This came along at a time where the world needs something to feel good about, and this movie has that in abundance. It plays on our nostalgia, yes, but it's also about the world uniting as a whole and ending what is a potentially world-ending event. Read into it what you may, but I'm not asamed to say that despite how silly and dumb it is, it tugged on my heartstrings. What more can I say? It's a 'Bill & Ted' movie, and it's not nearly as bad and "too little too late" as I imagined. Had Coronavirus never existed, I'm not sure it would feel as strong as it did, but cards on the table, this got to me in a very positive way. If you're a fan of the first two, and don't mind throwing your brain out the window for about an hour and a half, do check it out. I'm hoping not to over-hype it, but what makes the movie is its message, much like the other two. I had a great time with it, and kudos to it for it's straight to VOD option, further proving that their message of "be excellent to each other" is still alive and well in this otherwise particularly dated franchise. It's nostalgic film resurrection done right. 4/5
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