Good ’80s nostalgia evokes the feeling of a popular trend from that decade without directly referencing it. A recent and particularly successful example of this is .
The 2026 Hulu film is definitely a modern satire of American youth culture. Despite its wildly silly plot and quirky humor, Pizza Movie could easily be the best Bill & Ted movie we’ve seen in a long time.
Pizza Movie Has Bill & Ted’s DNA All Over It
It’s true that silly, science-fiction comedies about two friends aren’t for everyone, but 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is definitely the most famous example. The movie, starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, launched a beloved series about two time-traveling, rock music-loving best friends. However, a new contender recently emerged after its debut.
Similar to other offbeat comedies, the first full-length film from Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher – known online as BriTANick – is a wildly silly story about two unlikely friends and their crazy adventure. The film follows college roommates Jack (Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things) and Montgomery (Sean Giambrone from The Goldbergs), who accidentally take a hallucinogenic drug with terrifying side effects. The only cure? Pizza – which explains the movie’s title.
The story shares a lot in common with the 1991 film, where the main characters journey through Hell and other frightening parts of the afterlife. Jack and Montgomery’s mission to get a special item involves several difficult, mind-bending challenges – some even appear to mess with time. They also have to deal with Blake (Jack Martin), a cruel resident advisor who is determined to make their lives miserable, along with anyone else he sees as a problem.
What really struck me about Pizza Movie wasn’t just its wild visuals or how quickly it shifted moods – it was the way it explored friendship. Seeing Jack and Montgomery’s road trip and everything else that happened put a real strain on their connection, but it also gave them a chance to rebuild things with Lizzy, who they found out was going through something similar. It reminded me so much of Bill and Ted; their friendship was always the heart of those crazy adventures, holding everything together. While Bill and Ted never really faced challenges to their bond, like Jack and Montgomery did, friendship was always the key to what made their stories work.
Pizza Movie Is A Most Excellent Adventure On Its Own
I think if you’re not super familiar with current internet trends, watching Pizza Movie might feel a bit like watching Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – it’s got that same kind of goofy energy. But honestly, you don’t need to get that reference to still have a good time with it!
To be honest, the movie sometimes feels cluttered and relies too heavily on ideas we’ve seen before, with jokes that don’t always land. The strange experiences the characters go through often seem like a way to combine familiar concepts – like time loops, body swaps, and team-ups similar to Voltron – into a single film. Some viewers have even compared it to a longer, more elaborate version of the psychedelic scenes from the 21 Jump Street movies.
You know, watching this movie reminded me a bit of Bill & Ted – it really all comes down to the friendship between the two main guys, Jack and Montgomery. From the start, the movie makes you root for them because they’re clearly the underdogs, and that makes even the craziest parts of their adventure feel surprisingly urgent and important. It almost, just almost, feels like something genuinely worthwhile.
However, the film’s success really hinged on having the perfect actors, and it’s amazing they were able to cast Gaten Matarazzo and Sean Giambrone. Their fantastic chemistry and great comedic skills make the movie come alive, and they’re sure to win over anyone who watches Pizza Movie – you won’t be disappointed!
While there was once a concept for a Bill & Ted sequel where the pair attend college and deal with the strange side effects of a mysterious drug (a pretty far-fetched idea, honestly), most fans are happy with how the franchise ultimately turned out, especially with Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter involved.
Leaving aside the enjoyable 2020 sequel, Pizza Movie is the first film in years to recreate the wonderfully silly and heartwarming feeling of the original Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Let’s hope it encourages viewers to be kind and spread positivity, just like Bill & Ted always did!
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2026-04-14 00:10