Happy Death Day 2U (2019)
In some ways, Happy Death Day 2U is very different from its predecessor. In others, it feels almost like a remake who has invested its efforts differently. Either way, it expands on the first instalment and its characters. If you liked Happy Death Day, you’ll enjoy this sequel.
On Tuesday, September 19, college student Ryan (Phi Vu) is working on an experimental quantum reactor when he is murdered by a killer in a baby mask. When he wakes up on the morning of the same day, Tree (Jessica Rothe) and her now-boyfriend Carter (Israel Broussard) attempt to help him close his time loop. Unfortunately, their effort propels Tree into a parallel universe where a series of murders similar to the one she solved before are taking place.
What’s the same is the recurring plot where Tree dies and wakes up on the same day over and over. Also similar is the Babyface killer element. The mystery killer must be tied to Tree… but it isn’t her roommate Lori this time. In fact, Lori, Carter and many others Tree encountered before are different. For this reason, it’s important to remember Happy Death Day well when coming into this follow-up. Otherwise, you won't fully appreciate the differences.
What’s different is the general tone. This is hardly a horror film. Yes, there’s the knife-wielding killer but most deaths are played for morbid laughs as Tree - determined to start her day over as quickly as possible once something goes wrong - commits suicide in needlessly gruesome ways. This is a sci-fi comedy all about the time loop, the alternate dimension, and getting that quantum reactor to work. Appropriately, it's somewhat reminiscent of Back to the Future 2 in that there’s this side plot which can’t quite be ignored but the characters wish they could while they reach their own personal goal.
I was certain the time/dimensional jumping would explain the killers’ seemingly unnatural ability to appear at the right place, at the right time both in the last film and this one’s, but no. The plot also gets really nutty, needlessly so at points. Where it recovers goodwill is in its humor, which is often laugh-out-loud funny, and its lead, Jessica Rothe. Whether purposely ruining someone’s day by splattering them with her own blood or growing increasingly exasperated at the situation, she's a delight. As in the first film, seeing her grow as a person and piecing together the mysteries' clues is great fun.
I give writer/director Christopher Landon big credit for making a follow-up no one expected and (for the most part) finding ways to expand it in creative ways. Stay for a scene mid-credit but before you even go into Happy Death Day 2U, make sure you’re familiar with the original. It’s well worth the effort. (Theatrical version on the big screen, February 18, 2019)