Happy Death Day 2U, 2019

I am a big fan of Happy Death Day, so when I saw that the sequel was playing nearby on Valentines Day, I dragged my wife with me. Sometimes I feel bad for making her go to the theater with me to see almost entirely horror movies, but then I remember that Alamo Drafthouse has buffalo cauliflower to die for. The point is, it could be worse. Love ya babe! Happy Death Day 2U, written and directed again by Christopher Landon, sheds some of its slasher qualities to go more in the direction of something like Back to the Future. The charm from the first film remains largely intact thanks to Jessica Rothe and Phi Vu. However, in 2U we get added, goofy sci-fi elements and a group of college students who hold Tree’s fate in their rapidly-coding, churro sugar-covered hands. Don’t go see this movie if you didn’t enjoy the first film. Not only does 2U build off of its predecessor’s story line, the same kind of emotional and comedic notes are played over again in an attempt to ground a loopy story and sometimes shallow characters. Despite barely (but probably not) passing the Bechdel test, and despite not being the bloody horror films I hoped for, the Happy Death Day films are infectious in their comedy, which is typically operating on multiple levels, but at its most simple is just so damn funny. That being said, it’s not going to be for everyone. I recommend watching the first film before venturing out to see this one.