New Bill & Ted: Two ‘80s dudes have no business working this well in 2020

• 

  Giving a bizarre musical "performance" at a wedding reception. [credit: YouTube/Orion Pictures ]

As a person over the age of 30, I, too, have a soft spot for 1980s cinema: Indiana Jones, Ferris Bueller, an infinite number of high school movies. But 40 years later for some of these films, rose-colored glasses can quickly shatter whenever you start a rewatch. Indy runs around snatching up artifacts that should probably be in the hands of local leaders, no? Ferris Bueller treats his girlfriend and best friend like trash. And, good lord, things like Revenge of the Nerds wouldn't be greenlit in 100 years if pitched this century.

All of that—plus Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—made "caution" the correct reaction when the long-rumored "Bill & Ted 3" finally transitioned to reality in March 2019.

Kind of a buddy comedy, high school slacker movie, and time travel adventure all wrapped into one absurd package, the original Excellent Adventure remains something I adore. (Ate the cereal to get the phone booth; had the Genghis Kahn action figure.) And rewatching it recently, that film refreshingly holds up better than your average '80s flick. Outside of some ill-chosen words in medieval times (which frankly seems out of character for Theodore Logan and Bill Preston Esq. even considering the film's release year), Bill and Ted unironically love each other, they treat folks from other cultures with respect (as best they know how to, at least), and they never pretend to be anything close to tough or cool. Even some of the subtle messaging holds up: People in authority—from a cop dad to a sundae-loving Napoleon—can be jerks. Music or the arts can be a great unifier. Even those with pre-destined, Earth-saving greatness can use a little practice from time to time.

Read 10 remaining paragraphs | Comments