Reviews for Bill & Ted Face the Music and The New Mutants (this weekend’s two biggest US releases) are in, and both hit very different marks with critics.
Bill & Ted Face the Music currently has an 81% (6.66/10) on Rotten Tomatoes and a 66/100 on Metacritic. These scores place Bill and Ted in the same neighborhood as Christopher Nolan’s Tenet (80% 69/100).
Critics have glowing things to say about the film, which means the film found a way to complete the series in a complimentary way to the previous two films, while giving fans growth and conclusion.
Check out what some of the review say:
“Its ramshackle earnestness, its certainty about nothing beyond the fact that we need to get our act together as human beings, is its great strength.” – Stephanie Zacharek, TIME Magazine
“I don’t know if it made me feel young or old, but it was all in all a most non-bogus experience.” – A.O. Scott, New York Times
“The film suggests that Bill and Ted’s dreams of stardom, which have evolved into dreams of acceptance and expression, aren’t so stupid after all” – Chuck Bowen, Slant Magazine
“Face the Music is clearly a passion project for the minds behind Bill & Ted, and it results in a sequel that coasts by on its goofy humor and heart.” – Sandy Schaefer, ScreenRant
This is great news for a film that most hoped would be another most-excellent adventure.
Unfortunately, for 20th Century Studios final X-Men film, The New Mutants, critics cannot say the same. The film’s only at 18% (4.46/10) on Rotten Tomatoes and 45/100 at Metacritic.
The reviews seem peculiar in that they are trashing the film like Dark Phoenix, rather reviews cite that New Mutants is a misfire rather than a bomb.
It’s sad news for a film that sat on the shelf for the last five years.
Check out what the critics have to say about New Mutants:
“It’s a strange misfire, a dated and uninspiring comic book adaptation that feels like it was made in the early 1990s, not 2017.” – Sean O’Connell, CinemaBlend
“A plodding viewing experience, even with lowered expectations. It’s a better fit for television. Boone is making a network pilot, not a big screen experience.” – Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com
“Re-shot, re-cut and somehow rescued from total obscurity, Boone’s movie isn’t half bad. Alas, it’s not half good either.” – Peter DeBruge, Variety
“It’s the kind of movie many fans will surely want to like. And while it lives up to that modest promise, it certainly doesn’t go above and beyond.” – Michael Nordine, TheWrap
While I will still go see the film, the reviews hint at why Marvel was toying with passing on a theatrical release and launching the film on Disney+. The 5-year hiatus doesn’t help the film’s case any.
Unfortunately, comic films are just that much better today, and fans demand a better comic movie. These and a number of other factors hurt The New Mutants.
Both films are in theaters now, but next weekend bring some heavy attention-getters with Nolan’s Tenet launching worldwide, Mulan dropping PVOD, and The Boys season 2 grabbing stellar early reviews (96% on RT).
You can also grab Bill and Ted Face the Music on PVOD.
