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Quality cinematic spoofing and satire is an increasingly rare commodity, with moronic films like Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans insulting and degrading a formerly cherished art form. Thank goodness, then, for films like 1999's Galaxy Quest that remind us how satisfying a genuinely well-written spoof can be. Scripted by Robert Gordon and first-timer David Howard, Galaxy Quest is simultaneously a parody and an affectionate tribute to popular science-fiction franchises, most notably the Star Trek universe and its real-world fans. With pitch-perfect casting, razor-sharp writing, spot-on characters and assured filmmaking in every respect, the resulting film is a hilarious blast of sci-fi fun. It's a perfect lazy afternoon movie.
The story explores a simple "what if" premise: what if a race of otherworldly aliens mistook episodes of a fictional sci-fi series for authentic historical documents and built their civilisation around the show? Furthermore, what if the aliens truly believed that the show's cast were actual space explorers and travelled to Earth seeking their help? In the context of this film, Galaxy Quest is 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 actor who genuinely enjoys the attention is William Shatner-esque Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), who played the high-ranking Commander Taggert on the show. Meanwhile, fellow cast members Gwen (Sigourney Weaver), Fred (Tony Shalhoub), Alexander (Alan Rickman) and Tommy (Daryl Mitchell) resent Jason and the dire state of their careers. Following a particularly heated convention, a group of desperate aliens known as the Thermians approach Nesmith, pleading for his assistance to defeat the genocidal Sarris (Robin Sachs). Before long, Nesmith and his fellow cast members, accompanied by convention handler and one-time cast member Guy (Sam Rockwell), are sucked into a genuine space adventure, not unlike something from their former TV program.
Opening with a segment from the fictitious Galaxy Quest show that features knowingly goofy hairstyles, corny dialogue, retro sets and a general air of silliness, it is immediately apparent that the movie's satirical sights are set on Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe, as it gleefully sends up the various clichés and tendencies of the old TV show. Additionally, the screenplay playfully pokes fun at washed-up TV stars without malice or cruelty. In the story, the Galaxy Quest cast cannot find any worthwhile paying gigs apart from signing autographs, which happened to a few of the original Star Trek cast members, and aspects of Nesmith's character are even based on William Shatner. But what's so special about the film is that it ridicules the protagonists while also creating relatable, sympathetic characters that are easy to care about. As the narrative progresses, the ostensibly shallow characters develop into interesting, three-dimensional people, which most surface-level parodies fail to do. Another enjoyable quirk of Galaxy Quest is that the show's fans are known as "Questians," which is an obvious nod to "Trekkies."
Galaxy Quest is a "have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too movie", as it parodies a genre while also representing a strong addition to said genre - think Scream, Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. Therefore, on top of being a hilarious spoof, Galaxy Quest is also an incredibly entertaining sci-fi action-adventure with first-rate special effects, exciting battles, and even remarkably unforced moments of pathos. In other words, it is a proper story with real stakes. Director Dean Parisot admirably acquits himself with the material, showing a superb grasp of comedic timing while also handling the action sequences and the dramatic moments with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. The pacing is exceptionally strong throughout the 100-minute running time, and even when the laughs are not as frequent, the film always remains fun. Additionally, technical contributions are practically flawless across the board, with vibrant, eye-catching cinematography by Jerzy Zieliński, while David Newman's wonderfully cheesy and flavoursome original score perfectly replicates the tone and feel of old Star Trek music. With a generous but not overwhelming $45 million budget, the special effects by Industrial Light and Magic are fantastic, with the picture incorporating excellent miniature work and convincing computer-generated imagery, while Stan Winston's prosthetics and makeup artistry make this sci-fi universe seem entirely real. The writing, however, is the film's key strength - the hilariously quotable dialogue is endless, and the movie features some of the wittiest group banter ever seen in an ensemble movie.
The impeccable cast is another highlight, with not a single weak spot in the ensemble. The actors fully commit to their roles, playing the characters straight and never seeming in on the joke. Tim Allen is extremely funny here, while the always-reliable Alan Rickman steals the show with a hilarious performance as an embittered actor who outright resents the Galaxy Quest show and believes he has squandered his acting potential. Rickman excels at dry humour, and the script serves him well here, with several side-splitting one-liners. Sigourney Weaver is equally strong, playing the show's thankless sex symbol with pitch-perfect comedic conviction. Meanwhile, Tony Shalhoub delivers an uproariously deadpan performance as the trademark techie, and Enrico Colantoni is funny and likeable as the Thermian leader, Mathesar. Then there's the brilliant Sam Rockwell, who constantly steals the spotlight playing a one-time Galaxy Quest extra who epitomises the traits of a "Red Shirt" crewmember from the original Star Trek series and is in constant fear of death. Also keep a look out for Justin Long, who makes his film debut here as a teen fanboy/geek who is so wrapped up in the old series that he cannot distinguish between reality and fiction.
A rare action adventure with style and substance, Galaxy Quest gets everything right. It's a testament to the team behind Galaxy Quest that being a sworn-in follower of geekdom is not required to appreciate and have fun with the film. The humour cleverly blends surface-level goofiness with sly satirical jabs at the Star Trek universe, engendering its own unique identity and universe. With this in mind, it is frankly astonishing that the film has not developed a massive cult following. Sure, it has its fans and was the subject of a Fandom documentary, but it remains incredibly underrated and under-appreciated. It's consistently laugh-out-loud funny, and the fact that it is a PG-rated film fit for family consumption makes it even more commendable.
9.0/10
