Galaxy Quest!

Many consider Galaxy Quest one of the best "Star Trek" movies ever made. There's no doubt that this movie doesn't exist without the long cultural shadow of Gene Roddenberry's TV creation. The enormous societal impact of the vintage TV series and the movies which followed are ingrained into the background understanding of those keen to listen. Especially good fodder are the nigh legendary relationships between the actors who portrayed the characters on Star Trek. Without taking any position on the on and off feuds between certain actors over the decades, it is that very celebrity gossip which fuels this movie, along with some of the most renowned cliches the show spawned. 

For those few of you who might not know, the story begins at a fan convention honoring the TV heroes of the show Galaxy Quest. The lead on the show was Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen) who is estranged from his other castmates who are jealous of his higher profile. He learns of their enmity and grows bitter just before he is contacted by the Thermians, an alien race menaced by an intergalactic dictator named Sarris. The Thermians believe the show Galaxy Quest was real. Naismith thinks he's just getting a good payday and tries to get his castmates Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver), Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman), Fred Kwan (Tony Shalloub), Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell) and a "Red Shirt" (Sam Rockwell). Before they know it, they are all in space headed into real danger aboard a space ship which is an exact replica of the Galaxy Quest's ship the Protector. 

The  Thermians are much of what makes the movie sing. They are hilarious creations, who look somewhat human but are far from it. They are naive and gentle people who the crew come to appreciate and like even when it becomes clear the whole gang is over their heads when it comes to real-life interstellar menaces. That menace is relentless and death for all seems inevitable. Help only comes when Nesmith remembers how much his fans know about the show, and taps that nerd knowledge to help fend off imminent death. 

I cannot possibly spoil this flicker for anyone who has not enjoyed it already, but much of the fun comes from the way the heroes mirror the cast of the original Star Trek, not imitate, but evoke. The feud between Shatner and the others is captured with fun and some stings. We are seeing workmates and sometime friends who have forever been thrown together by their fame and now by their shared danger. 

Galaxy Quest is tremendous fun and his highly recommended to all Star Trek fans, and even those who might not be. Tomorrow we wrap this Star Trek thing up. 

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