Galaxy Quest (1999)

Galaxy Quest (1999)

 

7/10

Starring

Tim Allen

Sigourney Weaver

Alan Rickman

Tony Shalhoub

Directed by Dean Parisot

If you went through the 90s without watching Galaxy Quest, then, as a movie lover, your library has a glaring hole. I’d strongly recommend you fill it by watching this all-time sci-fi cult classic. It’s a brilliantly crafted sci-fi comedy that parodies the genre while paying homage to iconic sci-fi films and series—especially Star Trek.

What I respect and appreciate about Galaxy Quest is that it doesn’t fall into the trap of over-the-top parody like many others do. Unlike the slapstick humor of Scary Movie or Airplane!, this film features a serious, well-thought-out script that tackles life-and-death stakes while keeping enough humor to make you smile throughout.

The story revolves around the cast of an 80s TV series called Galaxy Quest. Although the show has long since been canceled, it still has a massive fan base that organizes conventions and comes up with intricate fan theories. However, the cast members don’t all get along. Over the years, they’ve matured (or not), struggled to land new roles, and survived largely on the money they make from these conventions.

The crew of Galaxy Quest includes Commander Taggart, played by Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen); Lt. Tawny Madison, played by Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver); and Dr. Lazarus, played by Alexander Dane (the late Alan Rickman). These three, along with other cast members, form the crew of the ship commanded by Taggart.

Jason, the egotistical star of the group, has become increasingly resented by his castmates for his selfishness and behavior. During one convention, he’s approached by a group of strange people dressed as if they’re part of the Galaxy Quest crew. They ask for his help and invite him to come with them. Assuming they’re just overzealous fans, he brushes them off.

The next day, these same people show up at his home with a limo, asking him to join them to help negotiate with a dangerous adversary. Believing it’s a paid gig, Jason goes along, falls asleep in the limo, and wakes up in what he assumes is an incredibly elaborate set. He soon learns he’s actually on an alien spaceship.

These aliens, called Thermians, have based their entire civilization on broadcasts of the Galaxy Quest TV show, which they believe to be historical documents from Earth. Jason plays along, thinking it’s part of his “role,” and ends up botching a negotiation with an alien warlord named Sarris, making things much worse for the Thermians.

When he’s beamed back to Earth—an experience that terrifies him—Jason finally realizes this is all real. He rushes to his former castmates, who are attending a convention, and begs them to help. At first, they dismiss him as crazy, but when the promise of money is mentioned, they reluctantly join him. To their shock, they are beamed onto the Thermians’ ship as well.

The crew is horrified when they realize the Thermians believe them to be the actual heroes they played on TV and can’t comprehend that the show was fiction. Meanwhile, Sarris is after a device on the ship called Omega 13, and Jason and his crew are tasked with saving the Thermians while dealing with their own internal conflicts.

How the crew rises to the occasion, fixes their mistakes, and ultimately embraces their roles is what makes this movie so endearing. If you haven’t seen Galaxy Quest yet, do yourself a favor and watch it. It’s funny, heartfelt, and incredibly well-crafted.