Movie Review of ‘Galaxy Quest’ (1999)

Quality cinematic spoofing and satire is a rare commodity in this day and age, with moronic films like Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans now insulting what used to be a cherished art-form. Thank goodness, then, for films like Galaxy Quest which effectively remind us just how satisfying a genuinely well-written spoof can be. Simultaneously a parody and an affectionate tribute to the Star Trek universe and its real-world fans, Galaxy Quest gets everything right. The cast is pitch-perfect, the writing is witty, the caricatures are dead-on and the direction is assured, resulting in a hilarious blast of sci-fi fun. It’s a perfect lazy afternoon movie.

The jokey story is based on a simple “what if” premise: what if a race of aliens mistook episodes of a fictional sci-fi television show for authentic historical documents, and built their civilisation around said “historical documents”? Going one step further, what if the aliens believed that the cast of the show were actual space explorers, and came to earth seeking the actors’ help? In the context of the narrative, Galaxy Quest is the title of a long-cancelled cult television show whose washed-up stars are now middle-aged with no career prospects beyond appearances at fan conventions. The only cast member who genuinely enjoys the attention is the William Shatner-esque Jason Nesmith (Allen), who played the high-ranking Commander Taggert on the show. At a convention, a group of desperate aliens known as the Thermians approach Nesmith asking for his assistance in defeating the genocidal Sarris (Sachs). Before long, Nesmith and the rest of the cast are sucked into a very real space adventure not unlike something right out of their former TV program.

Opening with a segment from the fictitious Galaxy Quest show that’s filled with goofy hairstyles, corny dialogue, retro sets and a general air of silliness, it’s clear from the outset that the movie has set its satirical sights on Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trekuniverse, with various clichés and tendencies of the old TV show being addressed with satirical glee. Additionally, the script (by David Howard and Robert Gordon) playfully pokes fun at washed-up TV stars. In the story, the cast of the Galaxy Quest show are unable to find any worthwhile paying gigs apart from signing autographs, which is exactly what happened to a few of the original Star Trek cast members. (Aspects of Jason Nesmith’s character were even based on William Shatner.) But what’s so special about the film is that it ridicules the protagonists while also allowing us to sympathise with them. As the narrative progresses, the ostensibly shallow characters are developed into interesting, three-dimensional people, which is something that most surface-level parodies fail to do. Another enjoyable quirk of Galaxy Quest is that the show’s fans are known as “Questians”; an obvious nod to “Trekkies”.

Many have described Galaxy Quest as a “have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too movie”, which is an ideal description – this is one of few spoofs that pokes fun at a genre while also being a strong addition to said genre (think the style of Scream, Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead). Thus, on top of being a hilarious spoof, Galaxy Quest is also a fun, exciting sci-fi adventure that even contains remarkably unforced moments of pathos. Technical contributions are first-rate across the board, too – David Newman’s score is wonderfully cheesy, perfectly replicating the tone and feeling of the old Star Trek music, while Industrial Light and Magic’s strong digital effects and Stan Winston’s make-up artistry allow the story’s sci-fi universe to seem entirely real. The writing, however, is the picture’s key strength – the script is filled to the brim with hilariously quotable lines and some of the wittiest group banter ever seen in an ensemble movie.

Thankfully, the solid writing was sold extraordinarily well by the impeccable cast. The actors all committed to their roles 100%, playing the characters straight and never showing signs that they’re in on the joke. A less talented cast would’ve played the material broadly and thus destroyed the witty writing, but, fortunately, the script was in able hands with this group of comedic geniuses. Tim Allen is extremely funny as Jason Nesmith (I was shocked, too), while the always-reliable Alan Rickman steals the show with a hilarious performance as an embittered actor who believes he’s squandered his acting potential (his one-liners are the best). Sigourney Weaver is equally strong, playing the show’s thankless sex symbol with pitch-perfect comedic conviction. Meanwhile, Tony Shalhoub scores a tonne of laughs with a deadpan performance as the trademark techie, and Enrico Colantoni is side-splitting as one of the aliens. Then there’s Sam Rockwell, who constantly steals the spotlight playing a one-time Galaxy Quest extra who’s in constant fear of death. Also keep a look out for Justin Long, who made his film debut here as a teen fan geek who’s so wrapped up in the old series that he’s unable to distinguish the difference between reality and fiction.

It’s a testament to the skill of the team behind Galaxy Quest that you don’t have to be a sworn-in follower of geekdom to appreciate and have fun with the film. The humour cleverly blends surface-level goofiness with sly satirical jabs at the Star Trek universe, thus engendering its own identity while spoofing the bygone television program. With this in mind, it’s frankly astonishing that the film has not developed a massive cult following. Sure, some people do know about the movie and like it, but it’s incredibly underrated and under-appreciated all these years on. It makes me constantly laugh out loud every time I watch it; a rare feat for comedies in this day and age. And the fact that it’s a PG-rated film that’s fit for family consumption makes the finished product even more commendable.

9.0/10