Bill & Ted Face the Music

The slow-witted slackers return after nearly 30 years with a familiar predicament and seemingly impossible task - not only do they have to come up with a song that unites the universe, it must also save the cosmos from collapsing in on itself. Now middle-aged and on the skids after some initial showbiz success, Bill (Alex Winter), Ted (Keanu Reeves) and their chips-off-the-old-block teenage daughters race against time (and across it), gathering historical figures to help create music most excellent. Director Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest) and the writers of the original films (Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon) half-heartedly rehash the plots of the first two movies, with a little Terminator-friendly subplot, but big laughs are spread too thinly over an ominously short running time. The ever-dependable Kristen Schaal is a pleasing addition as the daughter of Rufus (the late George Carlin from the earlier outings), but ultimately, and underwhelmingly, it's business as usual.