Movie Review: Happy Death Day 2 U (2019)

Summary: Tree Gelbman discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead.

Check out my review for Happy Death Day. This will be a short review.

Pros:

• Jessica Rothe as Tree Gelbman. So, Tree is back. The movie doesn’t even start off with her and I was a little shocked because she’s what made the first one so fun. However, we do get back to her as the main character after the first 20 minutes or so. She’s still great though. She got out of the loop in the first one but something going wrong with science makes her go back into it again and just her reaction to it repeating is the best thing. Also, the deaths she goes through are hilarious and I love her reactions to waking up and everything. Jessica Rothe is so fun to watch that as the movie is no longer a “horror/thriller” she just makes for great humor and reactionary acting. She also handles the emotional moments that Tree goes through, particularly when it comes to Carter and her parents, I think were strong.

• Israel Broussard as Carter Davis. Carter is the boy-next-door and picking up where we left off, Tree and Carter are basically together. However, something happens that forces them apart and the Carter in most of the movie, is the Carter she first met, the one who doesn’t know her. He’s a sweet guy and even though they’re not together, he still is always willing to help her solve her problems. Israel Broussard does that kind, unassuming guy who is secretly brave quite well. He’s very likable too and you root for him and Tree as well.

Supporting Characters. We have some returning people and new people in the movie and everyone is funny, likable and fun to watch. Danielle is back and she’s over the top with some charm thrown in. We have two new characters who are friends with Ryan (Carter’s roommate) and Lori (Tree’s roommate) is back.

It’s funny. This movie is more of a comedy than it is a horror like the first film. It puts more emphasis on the science behind the time loops and allows Jessica Rothe to really kick it in high gear with how she reacts to what’s happening. One of my favorite parts is when she’s falling from high up and it slows down and what she’s doing made me crack up.

Interesting Premise. I am a sucker for time loop movies. I think they are usually so much fun and if it’s a serious drama, like Before I Fall, then it can be handled so well. Tree is forced back into the world of time loops when Ryan, Carter’s roommate seems to be stuck in one himself. Being that she is an expert, she tries to prepare him for what he might go through, but amid helping, she gets put back into a time loop herself. So now, it’s more than someone trying to kill her (as she thinks it’s the exact same story from before) but now more of what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Stay in the past that’s been granted to her or move on into the future. While it’s not as nuanced or interesting as the first one, it still manages to hold some weight.

Heartfelt. What’s interesting is that this movie puts Tree in a position where she must choose between her past and her future. I thought it was a nice choice to throw in there. It can be a little silly because her future is a boy and her past is her mother, but I think the lesson Tree learns to make her choice is a smart and mature one. I thought the movie handled that well and I give it it’s props for that. I didn’t tear up or anything, but it gave a nice and earned heartfelt moment.

Cons:

Necessary? It’s hard to ever say a stand-alone movie needs a sequel and this is one of those that doesn’t need one. So, this movie seems a bit… random? While it’s still a good and fun movie, I don’t think it was necessary for what we were given in the first one.

The Science. I thought it was a little weird that someone was able to create a machine that affected time and then it put Tree into a time loop. I don’t know if that was always the case for them, but it seems weird that it chose her to be affected by this science. I also wonder just how much her day repeated for her to be able to memorize all those scientific equations, so they can relearn it and try to help her each time. It’s mostly because of this reason that it doesn’t seem the movie was needed but I very much enjoyed it.

Overall, I really liked Happy Death Day 2U as it was a fun experience and I laughed more than I thought I would. I wasn’t sure what it would entail since it seemed like the story ended in the first film, but I was happy to see Tree again, to see how her life is going and her relationship with Carter that I did find myself getting invested in. I think the movie is very funny and has an interesting premise that it continued to build from throughout the film. It was also very heartfelt in how Tree must face things that’s happened in her life. She’s such an endearing and fun character that you root for her no matter what she chooses. Either way the choice is love, ya know? My only true critiques are if this movie was truly necessary because it doesn’t seem like it in the long run. Not to mention, the science was a weird addition. I get it from a science standpoint, not that I understand the science itself, but that’s why I didn’t find the movie necessary even though I really liked it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Have you seen Happy Death Day 2U? What did you think about it? This one is a comedy compared to the first one which is more horror. Which would you prefer?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below and be sure to check out more reviews!