Happy Death Day 2U movie review

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B-

IN A NUTSHELL: Happy Death Day 2U is a fun horror flick that is a sequel to the popular 2017 Happy Death Day movie where a time loop wreaks havoc on college students. Some are saying that it’s even better than the original Happy Death Day movie, calling it a sci-fi/slasher comedy mash-up. Personally, I think I liked the originality of the first one better. What this one has more of us heart and some moral lessons that will give you the feels.

You can read my movie review of Happy Death Day here. I remember liking it more, but I actually gave it a really low score. I guess it grew on me the more I thought about it.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Two people “flip the bird”
Body count = 20 death scenes
Some profanity, crude words, plus 1 F-bomb
A college girl with tons of cleavage.
Many suicide attempts
It’s definitely not as scary as the first movie.
Talk of porn and homosexuality

THEMES:

“Every day is a chance to be someone better.” – Tree (Jessica Rothe)
“We all have to make hard choices. That’s life.” – Julie Gelbman (Missy Yager)
“Sometimes the past is calling us in one direction and the future is calling us somewhere new.” – Julie Gelbman
“Take a chance. Follow your heart.” -Julie Gelbman
“People say, ‘I love you’ all the time, but it’s not until you can’t say it to their face anymore that you realize you really mean it.” – Tree’
“The best kind of love does that…it changes you.” – Julie Gelbman

THINGS I LIKED:

Director Christopher Landon gives us a goofy comedy of a dark version of Groundhog Day. And yes, there WILL be a third movie in this franchise. Landon announced it the minute this sequel was finished with production.
Jessica Rothe has perfectly messy hair in every scene. Her beauty looks so effortless. I thought the first movie really showed off her talent better. One of my complaints about the first movie was that her character was so unpleasant. She’s tough and soft in this one.
While the first Happy Death Day followed a similar plot as Groundhog Day, Back to the Future Part II was the inspiration for this particular story with a few Easter eggs. For example, notice the wood chipper says, “Biff’s Tree Removal” on it, referencing “Biff” from the Back to the Future franchise.
If you enjoyed the idea of other dimensions in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, you’ll get a kick out of this version of the multiverse explanation. I liked that we didn’t have to watch scenes from the first movie over and over again, but new ones.
Great job casting Missy Yager as Jessica Rothe’s mom. They really do look like mother and daughter.
I thought the song Stayin’ Alive (from Happy Death Day 2U) performed by Lizzo at the end of Happy Death Day 2U was perfect for the film.
Keep watching after the end credits!
All of the regular characters from the first movie are present, along with a couple of new ones. Many of the side characters have much more to do in this film. I especially like Phi Vu as Ryan, and would have liked to see more moments with him.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It helps to have seen the first movie. If not, you won’t quite understand everything, but there is a quick recap scene to get you up to speed.
Who names their daughter Tree?
Some of the choices in the last 20 minutes are just ridiculous and make the movie feel more like a cliched slapstick.
The romance seems to have way more weight than it should.
The movie probably should have ended sooner to be better to have more impact.
The killer feels like a side note. It’s not really a horror or slasher movie in the traditional sense.

FUNNY LINES:

“Who uses babies as a mascot?” – college student

INTERESTING LINES:

“That pain, that loss is what makes you, you.” – Carter (Israel Broussard)
“You have the chance to do something that most people only dream of.” – Carter
“I can’t spend my life living in the past. I have to take a leap of faith.” – Tree (Jessica Rothe)

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