Goon: Last of the Enforcers, the follow-up to the 2011 sleeper hit, Goon, hits theaters in the US today. But does it live up to its predecessor?

The answer to that question is both yes and no.

There’s much of Last of the Enforcers that skates closely to Goon, in terms of tone, style and narrative. And so, it stands to reason, that if you enjoyed Goon you’ll find just as much delight in its sequel. It is, at turns, just as endearing, witty and sharp as its namesake. And while some of the jokes might not hit the mark quite as expertly as in Goon, there’s still a lot to love about it — though, arguably, that might come down to your personal investment in the sport itself.

Which isn’t to say that you need to know all the comings and goings of hockey, both on the ice and off, but where Last of the Enforcers truly succeeds is in its commentary on the sport — which is subtly and expertly threaded between the crude jokes and bloody fisticuffs.

We pick right back up with the familiar faces of the original. Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott), in the opening minutes, is appointed as Captain of the Highlanders. That appointment seems poised to cause conflict between him, and Xavier Laflamme, but Xavier’s development from Goon has remained steadfast, as has his friendship with Doug, and he puts the team above his personal accomplishments.

Doug’s captaincy is short-lived, however, when he’s drawn into a fight with the son of the Highlanders’ owner, Anders Cain, which leaves him with a career ending injury — at least for an enforcer. Without his right-hook to rely on, and with a newly pregnant wife, Eva, Doug is left with no option but to hang up his skates and find another means of financially supporting his fledgling family.

From that moment on, Last of the Enforcers takes the time to explore some of the more complex conversations around the sport. Most notably in Doug’s — and later, Ross “The Boss” Rhea’s (Liev Schreiber) — feelings of loss and helplessness, after being forced into retirement. It is an issue for countless players in transitioning out of the game, in which hockey has been their whole life — and many a person has written about the impact on the mental health and well-being of former players, but the way in which Last of the Enforcers approaches it is deft and devastating, particularly in a film that is more commonly known for its tongue-in-cheek humor and violence.

When Doug takes a position at an insurance firm, in order to pay the bills, he loses that undeniable zest for life he has. One that he happened into during Goon, and only finds again when he reconnects with former rival and enforcer Ross Rhea. Rhea has regularly been taking part as a headliner in a hockey fighting league, and is suffering the effects of post-concussion syndrome — another hugely contentious subject in the world of hockey, as much criticism is leveled at the league for how they deal with player safety. Rhea agrees, with some persuading, to train Doug as a southpaw — throwing him dangerously back into the line of fire, which causes understandable friction between Doug and Eva.

The Highlanders also suffer some shakeups in the wake of Doug’s retirement, thanks to some dubious decisions by the club’s owner, Hyrum Cain. In Doug’s absence, he has taken over the contract of his son, Anders, the player responsible for ending Doug’s career. Though Anders’ arguably skillful skating elevates the team temporarily, his tendency for fighting, and volatile behavior as Captain find the team breaking down at a rapid rate.

Anders Cain’s single-minded obsession with personal success runs almost in parallel with Laflamme’s in Goon — particularly under the pressure placed on him to live up to his father’s legacy — and makes it easy to see how Laflamme’s story could have turned out much differently, were it not for Doug’s influence.

Ultimately, Doug returns to the Highlanders — alongside Rhea — while Anders Cain is ousted following his suspension from the league, due to becoming a hindrance to the team’s success. That revolving door of players on the Highlanders made a cutting commentary on the treatment of them being seen as a commodity over people, with the playoffs and cup as the only true measure of what it means for a team being successful. While it is, sometimes, easy to sympathize with Anders to the point of him being a product of his upbringing, by the final showdown much of that goodwill has been left behind.

The third act of Last of the Enforcers was incredible to behold. From Eva and Doug’s attempt to balance their faltering relationship, and daughter, with the brutality of the sport Doug has pledged his life to, to the adrenaline filled and bloody showdown between Doug and Anders, to Laflamme eventually settling into the role that he has been hurtling towards since the opening moments of Last of the Enforcers — Captain.

It is evident that Jay Baruchel, who wrote and directed the film, has a deep love for the sport — and a lot to say about it — and it was a satisfying follow up to Goon. If this is the last that we’ll see of Doug and the Halifax Highlanders, it was more than a fitting send off. There’s still room, of course, for a follow up — anyone else thinking of that potential third film about Doug and Eva’s hockey playing daughter? — but for now, Last of the Enforcers is a more than satisfying holdover for what has felt like an excruciatingly long off-season.

But, really, is it hockey season yet?

‘Goon: Last of the Enforcers’ is in theaters across the U.S. from today, September 1

(Also, don’t think we forgot about you, Tyler Seguin and Michael Del Zotto. We see you.)