Review: Galaxy Quest (1999)

This is a Resurfaced review written in 2002 or earlier. For more information, please visit this link: Resurfaced Reviews.

Galaxy Quest

Rating

Director

Dean Parisot

Screenplay

David Howard, Robert Gordon

Length

1h 42m

Starring

Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell, Enrico Colantoni, Robin Sachs, Patrick Breen, Missi Pyle, Jed Rees, Justin Long, Jeremy Howard, Kaitlin Cullum

MPAA Rating

Review

Being a Trekker, you have a lot of experience with science fiction and fantasy events and series and have a pretty good knowledge of the most loved and laughed-at aspects of the television genre. “Galaxy Quest” is a rough and tumble, unapologetically accurate spoof on both science fiction series and the fans that love them.

Tim Allen is Jason Nesmith who plays Commander Peter Taggert on the long-running sci-fi series “Galaxy Quest.” His only life seems to be his public appearances at conventions and other events where his celebrity is readily apparent to those in attendance. His likeness to William Shatner is strangely accurate.

Sigourney Weaver is the scantily clad Gwen DeMarco who plays Lieutenant Tawny Madison on the series. She’s the galactic equivalent of a Playboy bunny, except with more clothes. Alan Rickman is a dead-on facsimile of Leonard Nimoy as Sir Alexander Dane, the Spock-like Dr. Lazarus on the television series.

These series regulars must live life on the whim of their fans, never able to find roles that they can expand on without being compared to their fame-drenched roles. When real aliens abduct Nesmith, he is introduced to a real, space-bound vessel designed unerringly like the ship on his series. The aliens introduce Nesmith to a threat to their existence, the evil Sarris, who wants to destroy the entire race (all of which are held up in the remake of the “Galaxy Quest” vessel.

From there on, he must first convince his fellow celebrities to accompany him and help defeat Sarris and then actually accomplish the feat.

“Quest” is such an accurate spoof of “Star Trek” that they even focus on the famous “expendable ensigns” (or “red-shirts” as some call them). The similarities are uncanny and through these jibes, the film comes to a glorious climax with stunning visual and sound effects.

Allen does a great impersonation Shatner and plays the first role (outside of Toy Story 2) that I haven’t found him utterly annoying. Weaver proves that she can handle both sides of the coin with dramatic turns in other films and a comic turn here.

Rickman gives a much better performance than his venom-dripping portrayal of Gods’ right-hand angel in this year’s “Dogma.” His charicature of Nimoy is startlingly realistic and strangely fun. The rest of the cast stays on the beat equally well and give a tremendous sense of déjà-vu for fans of “Star Trek” and series like it.

The plot is simple and has no tremendous depth, but as a spoof, it’s funny and enjoyable. Looking at all of the science fiction films from this past year, I’ve come to the sad realization that this is the second best of the year behind the amazing “The Matrix.” Audiences of all ages will find something to like in this film even if they aren’t fans of sci-fi television series.

Awards Prospects

If the Oscars were often fair, I’d say that Sound, Sound Effects and Visual Effects would be completely in reach, unfortunately, they’re not, so say goodbye to Oscar, “Galaxy Quest.”