Following directly after the events of the first movie, “Happy Death Day,” the sequel, “Happy Death Day 2U,” follows the protagonist, Tree (Jessica Rothe), who is sent back into a time loop where she relives the same day after breaking out of it in the previous movie. The sequel premiered in theaters Wednesday, Feb. 13, a little over a year after the first movie came out on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. While fans of the first film were excited for the new movie, the story could have been improved had the writers taken time to come up with a stronger plot.

One of the aspects that worked quite well in the first movie was the lack of reasoning for Tree’s time loop. While people may argue the lack of reasoning was due to poor writing, the omission of details of what caused the time loop left it to the audience’s interpretation. However, this was all quickly thrown away at the beginning of the second movie’s trailer when viewers find out the time loop was caused by a group of nerdy college kids’ science project. While Tree’s journey was without a doubt meaningful, it would have had a deeper meaning if it was actually the universe trying to teach her a lesson, like fans previously assumed.

“Happy Death Day 2U” differs from the last movie by focusing less on the horror aspect of the film. Instead, the movie focuses on the emotional development of the characters the viewers are familiar with and how the time loop affects them. While the sequel definitely included intense moments, Tree is wiser and tougher after surviving the events of the first movie, making scary moments not as frightening as the audience knows she is capable of defending herself.

An aspect of the film that worked out surprisingly well was the relationships between Tree and other characters. Although there were multiple characters in the movie the audience didn’t care for, one relationship in this movie resonates deeply with viewers, enough to bring waterworks to the viewers’ eyes. The development of Tree’s character is what makes the film shine, even with a poor plot driver.

“Happy Death Day 2U” offers a humorous and emotional version of the first movie. However, for those looking for a true thriller to keep them up at night, they might be disappointed in this one. The film is enjoyable for viewers who have developed a connection with the characters from the first movie, as the sequel focuses on character development. As an amusing horror movie to see with a Valentine’s date, this movie earns 4 out of 5 stars.