Whether you love “Star Trek” or laugh at it, you’re
about to be in luck, because this comedy called “Galaxy Quest,” a likeable
comedy that at the same time manages to parody those popular futuristic space
shows and comedy the same aspects that have made them so sturdy.
“Galaxy Quest” repeats one single joke, about a cast
of unsuccessful actors from a canceled television series who are recruited by
some naïve intergalactic aliens to help them in a problem with a rough,
war-loving villain who has annihilated their entire species. If “Galaxy Quest”
never achieves consistently unsteady heights as it plays out its combination of
knowing satire and heroic adventure, it nevertheless keeps its story firmly in
order, gives a few honest laughs, moves fast, if not at warp speed, and our
protagonists are a talented cast.
The cast includes Tim Allen as the self-centered Jason
Nesmith. To his masses of fans, he is Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, of the
famous catchphrase “Never give up; never surrender.” Sigourney Weaver, so
granger to fighting with creepy extraterrestrials, plays Gwen DeMarco, known to
her fans as Lieutenant Tawny Madison, the delightful communications officer
aboard Taggart’s ship, Protector. We also have the late Alan Rickman is
Alexander Dane, who sadly remembers that he once played Richard III at a time
before he tried out to be casted as the Spock-like mortal Dr. Lazarus.
These actors and Tony Shalhoub and Fred Kwan, alias
Teach Sergeant Chen, and Daryl Mitchell as Tommy Webber, the navigator
Lieutenant Laredo, have been reduced to signing autographs at fan shows for $15
per photo and cutting ribbons at supermarket openings when destiny (directed by
Dean Parisot from a script written by David Howard and Robert Gordon) interferes.
Lawrence Van Gelder stated in his review, “In a scene
that skewers the ubiquitous ''Star Trek'' fan conventions, as the testy,
disheartened crew copes with costumed cultists, minutiae-obsessed teenagers and
giggling groupies, Nesmith-Taggart is approached by a group of odd creatures he
assumes are fans. He dismisses their monotonous babble.”
The next day, after he wakes up on the floor in his
family room, hung over after a night of drinking alcohol alone, they fly him
off to what he thinks is another re-enactment: a negotiation as Taggart with
the villain Sarris, played by Robin Sachs, on behalf of the friendly Thermians.
However, when Jason is amazingly returned, he realizes that he has been aboard
a real spaceship.
It appears that the Thermians, led by Mathesar, played
by Enrico Colantoni, believe the courage and principle-filled “Galaxy Quest”
television episodes they have watched to be real historical documents and have wanted
Commander Taggart to help them.
“Alexander,” Taggart said to the once and future Dr.
Lazarus after he returns to the mission and joins his old crew, “this is the role
of a lifetime.”
Now they are off, joined – in one of the film’s best
comic formations – by Guy Fleegman, played by Sam Rockwell, now a convention
organizer but once an unclear little player who died a quick death in episode
81. Gelder stated, “Throughout the adventure, as the heroes do battle with
Sarris and his minions, encounter cannibalistic space creatures who resemble
children, face off against assorted monsters and other perils while standing
between the Thermians and extinction, Fleegman remains convinced that being an
unknown actor, he is fated by the laws of scriptwriting to perish once more.”
In the dry comic background that now goes out over
much of planet Earth, “Galaxy Quest” may not be a testament to the genre, but
it gives a ray of hope for the future.
I saw this in the theaters in 1999, and I absolutely
loved it. I thought it was a funny movie and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I
highly recommend everyone to go out, rent the movie and see it since I honestly
think that you will enjoy it.
When you think about it, this movie is very reminiscent
of what happened to “Star Trek.” After how much of a critical and commercial disappointment
“Star Trek Nemesis” was and how bad the short-lived “Star Trek Enterprise” was
and cancelled after three seasons, Trekkies did not have anything “Star Trek”
related to look forward to in movies and shows for about six-seven years. Now
thanks to J.J Abrams rebooting the movies and a new “Star Trek” show coming out,
Trekkies can be happy to watch their favorite franchise now and not only look
forward to the conventions. Like I already stated, you have got to see this
movie because you will get a good laugh out of it and it’s a great
action-packed comedy.
Just sit put everyone because I will try to see the
new “Star Trek” movie this weekend. If not, I will try and see what time next
month I will check the movie out. “Star Trek Month” is not over yet, but is
going overtime until I see the new movie.
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