Star Trek II - IV: The Spock Trilogy - 10 Things You Never Knew
9. Star Trek II: It Was Made To Show That Older Stars Could Still Draw Crowds
The Wrath of Khan was set years after the Original Series and an indeterminate amount of time after the Motion Picture. The cast had all aged noticeably and pretending otherwise seemed foolhardy. So, this was met and the ages of the characters became a central plot in the film. It opens with the training of new crew in Lt. Saavik. In that opening scene, the whole crew is killed, including Spock. Then, wise and experienced Admiral Kirk enters the training facility and it is shown to be a ruse.
The fact that the crew have now returned to Earth to help train cadets is an homage to their experience and years of service. They complain that the training cruise they're embarking on will be a dull one. The same is not true of Checkov, who has risen in rank to first officer aboard the Reliant, growing from the young Monkees-inspired addition of the Original Series to a capable officer. Finally, Admiral Kirk himself is revealed to have had a son in the intervening years with Carol Marcus. David Marcus is an angry, passionate young man, not unlike a young Kirk.
These obviously depictions of age are flipped when throughout the film it is the experience that they have gained that allows victory in its various depictions. They teach Saavik, Marcus and Khan himself that enthusiasm alone isn't enough to win the day. Addressing the ages of the actors leads to middle-aged heroes on screen - a group of Obi-Wan's, rather than a group of Luke Skywalkers.