'Bill & Ted Face the Music' is Coming to Save Us All

I don't know when this  sequel is coming out. I don't know how it's coming out. I don't know if theaters will be opening soon or if the entire concept of the theater as we've known it since the time of the ancient Greeks right up to "Sonic the Hedgehog" is a thing of the past. All I know is that I've never needed a film as much as I need "Bill & Ted Face the Music." 

Admittedly, the history of comedy sequels is pretty grim in general. And typically by the third one in a series, they've fired all their bullets already. So for every fairly decent one like "Naked Gun 33 1/3" or "Austin Powers in Goldmember," you get lazy, humor-free money grabs like "Hangover 3" and all the direct-to-video dreck like "American Pie: Eugene Levy is Still Willing to Do These Things for the Money." 

And the history of any film series where there's a 29-year gap between sequels like this one is even worse. But not without its successes. I'm hoping "Face the Music" is like the "Karate Kid" sequel series "Cobra Kai," where everyone involved has such appreciation for the source material and the characters that launched their careers that they know exactly how to get the most out of them. 

There's a reason to be so optimistic. Because Keanu is one of the most bankable stars in all the world. He's got all the FU money one could hope for. Plus a public persona and loyal fanbase that any political, religious or cult leader would commit genocide to get. The last thing he needs is to put his name on a project he doesn't love, no matter how much Alex Winter could use the paycheck. 

I love the premise. The fact that Bill & Ted are still the same manchildren in their 50s that they were when they were trying to graduate from San Dimas High. That they brought William Sadler's Death back. The weird alternate timeline Bill & Ted in the prison yard. I love it all. Just give me moments like the Mall Sequence this might be the one thing that finally justifies the existence of 2020. 

Until then, be excellent to each other. And party on, dudes. Now more than ever.