Talk about striking while the iron’s hot.

Barely 18 months since Happy Death Day reaped over 25 times its modest budget of $5m, director Christopher Landon (who takes over writing duties from Scott Lobdell) releases a sequel and drops a strong hint of penning a third.

“I definitely have the third movie in my head,” said Landon. To which Jason Blum (writer of several Paranormal Activity spin-offs and head of Blumhouse Productions) added, “We want to make a third movie.”

My response to which echoes Pink Floyd’s blunt warning to controlling teachers in Another Brick In The Wall: leave those kids alone.

Not that 2U is poor. In fact, it’s equally funny, touching and thrilling – and at times more so – than the original. It’s just that the concept of repeatedly traveling back in time to rewrite history has the same effect on the audience as it does on the main protagonist Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe reprising her role). Namely, tiring.

Or to use her words, “I’m done with this shit.”

But, to be fair, there’s enough heart and humour to hold the attention and guarantee another good return on investment for Blumhouse who doubled their previous budget to $10m.

And the sudden shifts in tone and genre (one minute goofy comedy, next minute sci-fi slasher) provide welcome relief from the looping plot.

Director: Christopher Landon
Writers: Christopher Landon, Scott Lobdell (characters)
Stars: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Phi Vu
Peter Callaghan
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