Superior sophomore star-hopping

Rating: 7/10 (9 May 2013)

J. J. Abrams' 2009 reboot was a blast of pure photon energy, replete with wicked flirty banter between Kirk (the rubber-faced Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto), and some truly memorable action set-pieces. This time around, the snappy dialogue remains, the set-pieces are less memorable, and the plotting is heavier. Overall, it avoids the tricky second album syndrome - which, as Quantum of Solace showed us, can be most pronounced after a successful reboot.
The plot this time around is suitably preposterous. After a galactic terrorist named John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) attacks Starfleet, Kirk and crew are tasked with assassinating him at his hideout upon the Klingon home world. They end up capturing Harrison. A series of satisfying plot twists demand that Kirk and Harrison team up, even though Kirk knows he's aiding the enemy. Broadly the storyline is a means of humbling Kirk - as Commander Pike (Bruce Greenwood) observes, what Kirk really lacks is humility.
I'll go straight to the film's main flaw, as I see it. Without wishing to risk spoilers, there seemed to be a point at which the film came to a definite conclusion. We know there will be a sequel (the plan is for a trilogy), so it would have been an interesting place to leave proceedings. But returning writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, along with Damon Lindelof (Prometheus... *shivers*) apparently felt the need to wrap everything in a perfect bow again. A missed opportunity for a bold conclusion.
But otherwise, the film is a riot, possessing the same screwball energy as the first film, and once again appealing to the sci-fi hardcore and the mainstream moviegoer without pandering unduly to either. As before, the scenes involving the Kirk-Spock love story are the best, their dynamic bristling with outspoken frustration and unspoken need. Simon Pegg's Scotty has a stronger role this time out, proving himself to be more than comic relief. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) is more of a damp rag, but thankfully there's powerful female support in the form of newcomer Carol (the anime-pretty Alice Eve).
Star Trek Into Darkness is a worthy sequel to a film that somehow made Star Trek cool again overnight. In that regard, it may lack the same impact, but it has plenty of new ideas. If it's the filling of a three- part Abrams sandwich then it's very tasty indeed.