A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: Galaxy Quest

Date Viewed: 1/4/00

Details:

Tim Allen

Sigourney Weaver

Alan Rickman

Director: Dean Parisot

Score: +

The Review:

This falls somewhere in that amusing middle ground between parody, satire, and lampoon.

Lo these many years later, the aging stars and crew from the 18-year old, now syndicated, network TV sci-fi blockbuster, Galaxy Quest, still tour both the GQ conventions (with many of the fans in costume) and the shopping mall openings -- events big and small -- to experience a little of the glory, attention and adoration of those fans that still remember. The commander's ego (Allen) is monumental, and the main characters seem to be stuck in a rather deep rut. The humanoid Dr. Lazarus (Rickman) is getting more and more depressed, and bemoans the days he once did Shakespeare. The computer interface (a surprisingly buxom Weaver) is the only one who seems upbeat. Some rather oddly costumed people at the convention ask the Commander for his assistance "...in helping save some few of us in the galaxy Klaatu..." (remember The Day the Earth Stood Still?) and he blows them off.

As luck would have it, the aliens are for real. Our TV broadcasts were intercepted and interpreted by a struggling alien civilization as "historical documents" and the entire structure and science of the TV series was reconstructed and made functional. Allen is kidnapped and starts some sensitive intergalactic negotiations by attacking the opponents (typical Kirk style), while still believing it is a sound stage. Once Allen rides the "transporter" through the black hole on his return to Earth, he becomes a convert, and tries to convince his crew to accompany him. And they're off to save the galaxy again..., sort of.

The satire is screamingly funny, and it is helped immensely because Tim Allen bears an uncanny physical resemblance to a certain Captain Kirk, especially when shot obliquely from the back. You can just see the original crew in place of Allen, Weaver and Rickman.

Lots of Stan Winston creatures, many strongly reminiscent of the earlier humanoid aliens of the original Star Trek (before the special effects budget grew up). Some of the scenes are shot in Goblin Valley, Utah, which to my mind looks very similar to some of the alien planets on with the original 1960's show was filmed.

If this is parody, then loud, oxygen-rich explosions in the vacuum of space are not out of place -- nor are hand-held communicator devices that happen to work instantaneously across tens of thousands of light years, nor television RF that travels faster than the speed of light, nor a matter transporter design that only works on certain species, nor a computer interface whose sole function is to echo Q&A, nor completely pre-processed and ready to use "beryllium spheres" (the foundation of the hyperdrive) just lying out on the surface of the mining planet.

But don't let these quibbles interfere with your enjoyment. "Never give up! Never surrender!" And never worry about the science.

Back to the chronological list of reviews