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Galaxy Quest (Deluxe Edition) Review

The most marvelous thing about a gem like "Galaxy Quest" is how it manages to skewer - but gentle affection - science fiction conventions, a cheesy and long-canceled television science fiction show, the rabid fans of said show, the long-unemployed actors who played the leads in it, and yet at the same time tell a rather ripping-good yarn incorporating some genuinely moving moments. (And Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart and William Shatner have, at the very least, proved that they are jolly good sports about being ribbed so mercilessly.)

A lot of the comedy in Galaxy comes from the casting - and not just that there were top-flight acting talents in the lead roles - it is the actors, playing actors, who are playing characters who are so deliciously off-type from their actor-persona. For instance, Tony Shaloub plays Fred Kwan, (passive and suspiciously substance-addled) who is cast as TSgt. Chen, supremely competent spaceship engineer. Alan Rickman is Alexander Dane, over-wrought Shakespearean, passionate about his "craft" - who apparently has hated every minute of being the lizardoid alien, Doctor Lazarus. Sigourney Weaver as Gwen DeMarco - grounded and rather level-headed - is the sexpot Lt. Madison, the communications officer who apparently went through episode after episode repeating whatever the computer told her. And Tim Allen is Jason Nesmith - self-centered and defiantly not the heroic type - is playing Captain Peter Quincy Taggart, of the NSEA Protector, who never gives up, and never abandons his crew. Along with Daryl Mitchell, as the grown-up kid actor Tommy Weber, once the helmsman Laredo, and Guy (Sam Rockwell), who had a bit part in a single episode, and "died" in true red-shirt Enterprise crewman fashion - all of them are transported into space, onto a ship which in every detail is the NSEA Protector. To their astonishment and horror, they are being asked to be the characters they only played, on behalf of the Thermians. The Thermians are a race of aliens who have unfortunately run afoul of a particularly brutal enemy, Sarris and his evil minions. The NSEA Protector is their last, best hope. Alas, although technologically sophisticated, the poor Thermians know not of story-telling and entertainment. And that's the plot - of the actors being given a chance to be what they only appeared to be, and the leader of the Thermians, Malthezar becoming what he wants to be - an inspiring leader. It's a movie that bears watching again, and again.

Of the extras on this release, the funniest are the omitted scenes - Doctor Lazarus being given a tour of his quarters on board the Protector by the hospitable Thermians is hysterically funny. According to the commentary, some thought was given to showing the Thermian's idea of the other characters' quarters as well - which would have been also terrifically funny, but there are so many other comic scenes, lines and throw-away-bits that omission of that gag is hardly noticed. The other notable feature is a version of the movie entirely in the Thermian language. A little of that bit goes a very long way.

Galaxy Quest (Deluxe Edition) Overview

Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 12-MAY-2009
Media Type: DVD

Galaxy Quest (Deluxe Edition) Specifications

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

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 30, 2010 10:30:23

Recommend : Deep Discount DVD

Labels: 3Pack, AntiGlare, ClearTouch, Deluxe, Edition, Galaxy, Magellan, Protectors, Screen