Amazon.com essential video: You don't have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy Galaxy Quest, but it certainly helps. A knowingly affectionate tribute to Trek and any other science fiction TV series of the 1960s and beyond, this crowd-pleasing comedy offers in-jokes at warp speed, hitting the bull's-eye for anyone who knows that (1) the starship captain always removes his shirt to display his manly physique; (2) any crew member not in the regular cast is dead meat; and (3) the heroes always stop the doomsday clock with one second to spare. So it is with Commander Taggart (Tim Allen) and the stalwart crew of the NSEA Protector, whose intergalactic exploits on TV have now been reduced to a dreary cycle of fan conventions and promotional appearances. That's when the Thermians arrive, begging to be saved from Sarris, the reptilian villain who threatens to destroy their home planet.
Can actors rise to the challenge and play their roles for real? The Thermians are counting on it, having studied the "historical documents" of the Galaxy Quest TV show, and their hero worship (not to mention their taste for Monte Cristo sandwiches) is ultimately proven worthy, with the help of some Galaxy geeks on planet Earth. And while Galaxy Quest serves up great special effects and impressive Stan Winston creatures, director Dean Parisot (Home Fries) is never condescending, lending warm acceptance to this gentle send-up of sci-fi TV and the phenomenon of fandom. Best of all is the splendid cast, including Sigourney Weaver as buxom blonde Gwen DeMarco; Alan Rickman as frustrated thespian Alexander Dane; Tony Shalhoub as dimwit Fred Kwan; Daryl Mitchell as former child-star Tommy Webber; and Enrico Colantoni as Thermian leader Mathesar, whose sing-song voice is a comedic coup de grâce. --Jeff Shannon
Bad Language? The film is great, but I wondered about the lack of usual Hollywood bad language found even in PG-rated films. Looking closer at the actors talking, I could see numerous occasions upon which the visual shows one thing, the audio says another. For example, in one scene, Weaver's character says, "Screw that!" although reading her lips, she obviously was saying "F**k that!". What gives? Great movie, but since when did it become a PBS production?
Actually a pretty good lesson I have also watched this fun movie several times (all without my sweetheart who hates the idea of sci-fi) and I liked it because it teaches one of my favorite theories. It is impossible to pretend to be something for very long without in some way becoming that thing. The key is what do you pretend to be? Hopefully it is something more noble than what you may have been. I don't mean that it is good to be hypocritical, just that by stiving to be the man you would like to be is better than settling for the man you are. Maybe that is way too deep for this fun spoof of the Star Trecified shows.
So here's the deal, this is a funny if a bit silly spoof that just might give you something to think about if you are in the mood.
Galaxy Quest Just a rousing good time for those of us who are star trek/science fiction fans. The premise is fun and the cast is perfect. We have watched this movie repeatedly and quote lines from it all the time. It always makes us chuckle. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Quest No More Schtinky "Schtinky" having explained the plot very well I will only add I just watched my copy the other night again for probably the fifth time, and expect I'll watch it a bunch more times. I think being a fan of Star Trek or not isn't really too important as basically "Galaxy Quest" is about a cast of actors who share a history (having worked together in a discontinued long-running television series), have been resting on their laurels and finding it tedious and one another irritating, and are hoping for another t.v. gig. When they find themselves zapped into their old show, but for real and facing honest-to-goodness aliens, their ensemble acting skills kick in. Many important life lessons, sweet and bittersweet, are shared using uproarous humor and sensitivity. The acting is outstanding all around -- everyone shines. I can't recommend it enough!
Silly but fun! One of those stupid silly movies that just gives you some laughs at it's corniness. One of my favorites
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