Today’s quick review: Galaxy Quest. Eighteen years after the show ended, the crew of sci-fi sensation Galaxy Quest are reduced to making convention appearances and repeating their lines for overeager nerds. Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), the self-centered commander of the crew, laps up the attention, but his co-stars (Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, and Daryl Mitchell) are less enthused. But they are shocked when they are contacted by a real race of aliens, the Thermians, who have modeled their lives after episodes of Galaxy Quest. Now the Thermians want their greatest heroes to save them from an alien conqueror. Together with a nameless extra (Sam Rockwell), the crew venture into space to become the heroes they only pretended to be on TV.
Galaxy Quest is a loving parody of Star Trek that adds a meta spin to the classic sci-fi show. Mirroring the real-life broadcast, cancellation, cult following, and eventual revival of Star Trek, Galaxy Quest is a comedy about science fiction actors forced into the roles of their characters. The Thermians have no concept of fiction; to them Galaxy Quest was a historical broadcast. Their hopes rest on the Galaxy Quest crew. What begins as a lark for the crew soon turns into a life-or-death struggle where they find themselves mirroring their fictional counterparts just to survive.
The movie uses the divide between the characters and the actors to poke fun at the genre and its fans. The nonsensical aspects of the show’s writing are put on display when the setting becomes real. The actors struggle with the fact that they are entirely unqualified to pilot a starship. Even the show’s fans are shown as kindly yet a bit too invested.
For all the shots it takes, Galaxy Quest does show a heartfelt love for the genre. The silly bits of sci-fi are woven back into an enjoyable adventure that checks almost all of the Star Trek boxes. The characters are not all that deep, but they bounce off each other well and they all know how to panic enjoyably. Furthermore, they are all forced to grow by the situations they find themselves in. The lessons of Star Trek and similar shows are reaffirmed as the actors come to appreciate them.
As a sci-fi movie, Galaxy Quest is nothing too special. The plot, setting, and special effects are designed to mimic classic Star Trek, limiting the film’s ability to stand on its own. Likewise, as a comedy, the film is worth a few laughs but little more. But taken as a whole, Galaxy Quest is a charming, affectionate parody that occupies a nice niche of its own. Fans of sci-fi in general and Star Trek in particular should give it a watch. No intimate knowledge of Star Trek is necessary, but the ability to laugh at and laugh with the sci-fi genre is a must.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for making good use of its premise.