And Again. And Again.

Sequels are swell things. Humans love them. How many wars have we had to end wars? But we return to the premise of armed conflict over and over again. So excuse our midsummer suspicions when movie studio execs start wringing their hands and moaning over the “failure” of certain movie sequels this summer. Sounds like rehearsal for a tax audit meeting.

Let’s examine the alleged problem: Just because the public has fallen for -- what? -- 1,200 Agatha Christies, 30 Rockys, 15 Rambos and 200 James Bond yarns, not to mention Cinderella sequels “My Fair Lady,” “Pretty Woman” and “Maid in Manhattan,” does that mean anyone needed “The Hulk”? Do we have such a dearth of anger in current American society that we want to pay $8 to watch someone get so green with anger that he explodes out of his clothes? The third Terminator movie may be in trouble, according to execs. By the way, didn’t the Terminator get terminated through melting once? And “Charlie’s Angels”? They were boring on free TV. Maybe a new generation of empowered females would be fooled into buying tickets one time, but II? Even starring three what’s-her-names.

Let’s analyze this briefly: People don’t really like to work hard, especially in summer. Although they do covet the money that can come from somebody working hard. Being genuinely creative is hard work. So if something seems creative and it makes money, then the answer here is obvious: Do not bother being creative again. Just milk the last creativity for all it’s worth.

There is a contradiction in there somewhere that may be emerging this year at movie box offices, which have awfully thick glass for places hurting for cash. Fact is, there may be 15 or 20 genuinely original ideas for stories in human history. One, say, is “The Odyssey.” Everything else is a sequel, even if it’s called “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.” The issue isn’t sequel; it’s creativity. And connection, not repetition. Familiar folks and themes but new yarns, like “Star Wars.” It’s also a question of money. The more money squandered making a sequel, the more tickets you must sell to cover that. Who outside the Connery clan suggested paying Sean $17 million for “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”? Great beard, accent and presence. But that’s a lot of tickets.

Americans love sequels. Early on, the country had father-son presidents. Now again. And how but a love of sequels to explain wedding chapels in the state that virtually invented quickie divorces? Families with two children? Beatles songs? Sequels are familiar and comfortable. We’ll no doubt have a sequel editorial about sequels someday.