I liked the giant robot vs. kaiju (giant monsters from another dimension) movie Pacific Rim (2013), which I feel is a lot of fun.  The story picks up ten years later, after the kaiju threat is considered moot, in an indifferent sequel, Pacific Rim: Uprising.  Most of the elements are again present, but the story’s tone and style are not up to the wonder and sly wit of the first film.

Steven S. DeKnight’s film centers on Jake Pentecost (John Boyega), a petty criminal character who doesn’t even try to live up to the heroics of his father (who died in the first film while saving the world).  Inducted back into the Jaeger (giant robot) pilot corps in lieu of jail time, Jake has trouble fitting in until another spurt of kaiju attacks force him and his fellow recruits to step up and save the world on their own.

Rote characterization and plot development doom this to the routine, despite the presence of cool giant robots and three kaiju which, against all likelihood, combine themselves into one absolutely huge monster at the climax.  The story has one really interesting change from the first installment, involving Dr. Newton Geizler (Charlie Day), which I didn’t see coming.  The story also camouflaged the intentions of another integral character pretty well, but those were the only surprises.

Otherwise the film plays like a routine Transformers story, with city-sized destruction occurring so rapidly that one cannot really enjoy it.  It plays like an old-style cartoon with little exposition, almost no lethal consequence of all the smashing, and no common sense (how do the giant robots and monsters not cave in city streets?).  The end of this installment promises another, but I think the bloom has worn off of this particular rose.  ☆ ☆.  11 April 2018.