It has been twenty-nine years since Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted’s (Keanu Reeves) bogus journey and unfortunately they still have not written the song to unite the world. Instead they are playing gigs at open mic nights and family weddings. But when Rufus’ (George Carlin) daughter Kelly (Kristen Schaal) arrives from the future they embark on another adventure with a little help from their daughters Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine). 

Towards the end of Bill and Ted Face the Music there is a scene where our heroes utter the line, “this is bad” and their daughters respond “really bad” and it made me sad that I instantly thought that these two lines summed up the film. Whilst really well intentioned and featuring some great nostalgia value it really fails to hit the mark on any front. 

There is some fun to be had. Reeves and Winter have fallen back into their roles well. They still speak in unison and play air guitar and they look like they are having a great time. Fans will spot lots of call backs throughout with my highlight being the convoluted relationship that Missy (Amy Stoch) now has with the family. Whilst newcomers to the franchise Weaver and Lundy-Paine fit right in.

There are however two massive problems. Firstly, it is not particularly funny. Almost every plot line and joke falls flat and I was unable to raise more than the occasional chuckle. Secondly, the whole story feels like an uninspired retread. Bill and Ted’s story is just a series of meetings with alternate versions of themselves whilst Billie and Thea just do a retread of the plot line of getting famous musicians from the past. It isn’t particularly inspiring or interesting. And then the less said about an awful robot character and an impersonation of Louis Armstrong that appear the better. 

Lower your expectations to this being a nostalgic retread and you will be fine.