This film lacks the fun and surprise of the first one. It is still a good solid film and enjoyable but the whole movie implies that all of Washington is on vacation once the tablet wakes everyone up. They missed an opportunity to mix some real people in with the rest which could have been more fun. See it at the matinee.
I am a die hard fan and this was a great start to a new installment of a great franchise. Fast paced action with a lot of humor made the film one of the best of the ST movies. One item that did bug me is why Pike is the only "adult" on the ship. This isn't a training ship. There should be at least a couple of people with more then a days experience to put in charge but it makes the story work.
Very well done with great special effects. Only disappointment was that the ending is sudden and leaves a lot open. % more minutes to wrap things up would have made this a great film. Reeves deadpan performance was perfect for this part.