Galaxy Quest (2000)
Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman
Director: Dean Parisot
Synopsis: Sci-Fi spoof has some genuine laughs and good performances all round.
Reviewed by: Ali Khan

 

The television series Galaxy Quest has finally come to the end of its run. During its heyday, it amassed an enormous cult following and, keen to cash in on their short-lived fame, the cast now spend much of their time making appearances at science fiction conventions.

Amongst their legions of geeky admirers is a particularly strange group of 'Trekkies'. Inviting the cast aboard their own starship, the crew of Galaxy Quest soon discover, to their horror, that they have actually landed on a real spaceship where their television programme is regarded as an authentic historical document. Suddenly finding themselves in a situation where their alien hosts genuinely believe them to be the heroic characters they portray on screen, the actors are forced to assume their fictional roles to save their new friends from a ruthless race of alien adversaries.

It has been quite some time since a genuinely worthwhile spoof came along, and Galaxy Quest hits the spot beautifully. There are some genuinely hilarious scenes, and the film remains consistently funny throughout. Watch out for the numerous subtle in-jokes—Sigourney Weaver crawling through the tunnel in a delightful nod to Alien is just one of many. Although the obvious target is Star Trek and its devoted following, the film's humour is never cruel or condescending. Instead, it treats both the series and its fans with genuine affection.

Another reason the film works so well is the superb ensemble cast. Tim Allen is perfectly cast as the Kirk-like captain, but the biggest honours belong to an exceptionally funny Sigourney Weaver and the ever-reliable Alan Rickman, who is simply magnificent. It is obvious that the cast relished the opportunity to play characters so different from the roles with which audiences normally associate them, and their obvious enjoyment translates wonderfully to the screen.

It's refreshing to come across a spoof that actually works—and a genuinely funny one at that. Better still, it manages to avoid the increasingly crude and smutty humour that had become so fashionable in modern comedy. Galaxy Quest is a warm, affectionate and consistently entertaining film.