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

Based on the innumerable examples at our disposal, we as a species understand how awful being stuck in a time-loop must be. The thought of escaping one only to wind up re-entering it shortly thereafter must be positively maddening. Enter Theresa “Tree” Gelbman, who finds herself in this exact situation in Happy Death Day 2U.

Written and directed by Christopher Landon, Happy Death Day 2U picks up directly where the previous film left off, as Tree (Jessica Rothe) is dismayed to discover that she’s the time loop and must face off against a new killer who is coming after her as well as her friends this time. Rather than going for the formulaic, “same-but-different” approach, Landon takes Happy Death Day 2U in a bonkers direction that—coupled with its talented cast and silly, tongue-in-cheek tone—makes it as wildly entertaining and goofy-fun as the previous film.

Similar to the first film, Happy Death Day 2U understands that its funny, not-so-serious tone is the key to selling the time-looping deadly shenanigans that befall Tree and company. In fact, this iteration may lean even further into comedic territory, feeling decidedly sillier than the previous installment. While this might disappoint some, I believe this decision mostly works in its favor. Director Christopher Landon certainly knows when to play things straight and does so effectively, but the humor on show here works and is one of the film’s most notable attributes.

While the film is tonally consistent with its predecessor, Happy Death Day 2U is not content with just repeating the same formula and brings in elements of science-fiction to put a new spin on its story. We learn that Tree’s previous (and current) time-loop fiasco was caused by a science project gone awry, and surprisingly, this addition to the plot works. It feels appropriately ludicrous and unexpected, and it adds a different flair to this film that keeps it from feeling too similar to the previous one. It’s not a Blair Witch 2 level of reinvention—there are times when the film is reliant on what happened in the first one—but Landon adds a fun and refreshing twist to the familiar structure.

Where the film truly excels is in its casting. Jessica Rothe continues to be a revelation in the role of Tree, as she confidently navigates the impressively wide gamut of emotions her character experiences throughout the film. She earns her place as the film’s star, and this is especially high praise given how talented her fellow castmates are. The chemistry between characters here is exceptional, selling the wacky adventure they’re on and making the audience want to ride along with them. Even Rachel Matthews’ character Danielle, the supremely bitchy sorority president, has a level of charm and charisma that makes her character enjoyable to watch.

When watching Happy Death Day 2U, it’s clear how much fun the director, the cast, and the crew are having with this material. And thankfully, their fun is infectious for the audience. Where many sequels feel like a rehash of a previous success, this film feels like the natural continuation of its predecessor. Is it perfect? No. But if you’re craving a charmingly wacky, confidently made rollercoaster ride of a film, then this one should hopefully satisfy.