PG | 1h 42min | Comedy, Spoof, Action, Sci-Fi | 1999
The theatrical performance of “Galaxy Quest” practically mirrored that of the TV show (“Star Trek”) it parodied. Released on the most coveted day of any year (Christmas) in 1999, it was one of the finest examples of counterprogramming in the history of American cinema.
Also released on that day was “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “Angela’s Ashes,” and “Titus,” all prestigious productions, and all monumentally depressing movies appreciated mostly by stuffy arthouse patrons and a few egghead critics.
Hollywood Accounting
“Galaxy Quest” technically did pretty well, taking in over $90 million against a $45 million budget but, thanks to creative Hollywood accounting, it “barely made a profit.” As with the original “Star Trek” series 30 years earlier, “Galaxy Quest” was initially appreciated by few, but now enjoys a healthy theatrical afterlife and remains a worshipped cult favorite.Sharing considerable common ground with the 1997 documentary “Trekkies,” “Galaxy Quest” profiles the cast of a long-cancelled TV show that ekes out their living appearing at conventions, mall openings, and the like, dressed as their characters while signing autographs with forced, tight-lipped smiles.
The cast collectively despise these events, not so much for the “beneath them” nature of it all, but more because they realize they’ve been permanently typecast and are, for all intents and purposes, unemployable as actors. They’re especially resentful of Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), the lead actor of the “Galaxy Quest” series who perpetually shows up to events late and usually hung-over.
The most irritated are Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman) and Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver). Dane is British and once did Shakespeare on stage, but in the show he plays a doctor who wears headpiece make-up suggesting his character is part-reptilian, and is called on to repeat a catchphrase from the show that makes his skin crawl.
As her anti-Ripley character from the “Alien” franchise, Ms. Weaver’s DeMarco is written as a busty blonde bimbo whose principal duties are providing cleavage and parroting the ship’s computer communications.
At the most recent gig, Nesmith is approached by a quartet of pale “Thermians” led by Mathesar (Enrico Colantoni) requesting he help them thwart an impending attack from a hostile enemy that resembles the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on steroids.
Thinking this is just another group of overzealous fans, Nesmith agrees, defeats the bad guys with flip halfhearted intent and becomes flabbergasted when he’s transported back to Earth. This wasn’t a carefully orchestrated fan scenario; it was an authentic battle.
The Real Deal
With his enthusiasm bubbling over, Nesmith informs his former co-stars that this is the real deal and the opportunity of a lifetime. They can actually go into outer space instead of pretending with a race of beings who worships the very ground they walk on. Surmising the worst that could happen would be another event payday, Demarco, Dane, and three others beam up to the ship and are rightfully agog and amazed.Things are going swimmingly up until the point when the villain everyone thought was dead isn’t, and said villain figures out he’s dealing with a bunch of washed-up actors who have nary a clue what they’re doing in an authentic, real-world, life-and-death, intergalactic battle scenario.
Where Do We Go From Here? At about the halfway point, director Dean Parisot (“Monk,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) along with screenwriters David Howard and Robert Gordon could have gone in any number of directions and, instead of settling on just one, take them all. This is not as easy (or lazy) as it might sound and even harder to pull off with conviction.
With the satire/spoof angle firmly established, the filmmakers could have easily wrapped it up with a Mel Brooks “Spaceballs” spin, but instead pinch a bit from the second “Star Trek” feature (“The Wrath of Khan”) and Episode V of “Star Wars” (“The Empire Strikes Back”).
There is authentic, heartfelt drama on display here and, where “Trekkies” somewhat mocks fans of the genre, “Galaxy Quest” presents followers of the show as saviors. When all seems lost, Nesmith calls on a nerd fan of the show, and it is he and his cronies who gloriously save the day.
The final two minutes of the movie offers both closure and keeps open the possibility of a sequel alive but, with the death of Rickman in 2016, all speculation of any desired sequel ceased. Mr. Allen, who was open to another installment, showed a great deal of class by stating it would never happen without Rickman.
One of the many great subplots of the movie is the constant friction between Nesmith and Dane. It’s refreshing to know that one actor preferred to respect the legacy of another actor in such an unselfish manner over commerce, and the likelihood that a sequel would probably besmirch what had preceded it.
