A theory I have...

I imagine that part of the reason that this sequel was a flop is because the pop culture of the late-1960s was still so relevant in 1979. I know, 10 years had passed, but 1979 had a lot of common with 1969, which was shortly after a explosion of pop cultural aspects had appeared. Sure, there were far less hippies around and the Vietnam War was over, but not by long, as it officially ended in 1975. The turbulence of the late-'60s also carried into the '70s as the '70s US saw women's rights protests, for example. 1979, just like 1969, had such funky and psychedelic fashions as afros, flower-pattern shirts, and bell bottom pants. Those late-'70s disco floors were also very colorful. The hippie INFLUENCE or MARK, if you will, on mainstream US society was still strong. If one listens to music, they can hear the link, as well. For example, "What's Going on?" was a huge hit for Marvin Gaye in 1971 and referenced such current issues as racism, fierce disagreement regarding the war in 'Nam, police brutality, and feelings against long-hairs ["War is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate...Picket lines and picket signs, don't punish me with brutality...simply 'cause our hair is long" -- some of the song's lyrics). George Harrison had a #1 hit in 1973 (a mere 6 years before this movie's release) with a folk-influenced message song called "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)." If one listens to the Peaches & Herb soul ballad #1 hit in 1979 "Reunited" it sounds similar to such soul hits of the late-'60s as the 1968 song "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. The '70s also had such psychedelic groups as Pink Floyd (DARK SIDE OF THE MOON album from '73) and The Steve Miller Band ("Fly Like an Eagle" - 1977 -"fly like an eagle, let my spirit carry me, fly through the revolution" -- some of the lyrics). Pink Floyd's #1 hit, for instance, "Another Brick in the Wall" was in 1980, as was the hit "Funkytown," which though disco, also had a strong funk-soul/R&B flavor, also present (well the soul aspect) in Smokey Robinson's "Crusin'" (1980). My point is this movie lacked any large nostalgia factor in spite of the 10-year gap. Anyone else agree?