Movie Review: Galaxy Quest (1999)

Galaxy Quest (1999) directed by Dean Parisot

"Galaxy Quest" was a canceled science fiction television show that looks an awful lot like Star Trek. The actors still go on the convention circuit, where they sign autographs and answer arcane technical questions that obsessive fans have. At one convention, lead actor Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen) shows up late yet again, a habit annoying to everyone else. Two other things happen at the convention. In the bathroom, Nesmith overhears some people making fun of him and the Galaxy Quest fandom as nerds who are completely pathetic. Second, Nesmith is approached by what seems like a quartet of cosplayers who beg him to come to their homeworld and save them from an oppressor. He assumes it is some gig he is scheduled for and demands a limo pick him up tomorrow. They come to his house with the limo, then take him into space to help with their negotiations. He still isn't quite sure what's going on (partly because he is hung over) and blusters his way through, firing all weapons at the baddie. They send him back to Earth in a gel pod, which is when he realizes he was actually in space and the "cosplayers" are real aliens who think he and the other actors are intergalactic heroes. Nesmith has a hard time convincing the other actors about what happened until they all get sucked up into space to help with a second round of negotiations.

The movie does a great job spoofing Star Trek in its entirety. The TV show has the cheap look of a 1960s production with the typical diverse crew including an alien first officer (played by Alan Rickman). That actor is tired of the role since he used to do Shakespeare and has a lot more self-importance than everyone else. Rickman and Allen are great together. Sigourney Weaver plays the female lead who is in the show more for fan service than for checking a diversity box. Tony Shaloub and Sam Rockwell also give great performances in lesser roles. The premise is a bit bonkers but very entertaining, doing a good job balancing the satire, sci-fi, and action. The movie is so much fun and easily rewatchable. It's both a science fiction and comedy classic.

Highly recommended, even if you aren't a Star Trek fan.