A loving homage to Star Trek and sci-fi culture, I hadn’t seen Galaxy Quest in years. My wife and I kept saying we really should watch it again sometime, and we finally did it! Not only is that particular little itch scratched, but the film still holds up extremely well. Yay!
Who knew that understanding it’s topic deeply and not punching down could be good?
The cast is brilliant. It’s obvious to point out that Alan Rickman does deadpan frustration amazingly well, as it is to point out how good (and let’s be fair, hot), Sigourney Weaver is. But the real star for me, and I know for my siblings, is Sam Rockwell as Guy. A red shirt who appeared in one episode, his freakout at the possible lack of air is only eclipsed by his grin at the end. I absolutely adore him in this.
Then there’s the effects! Keep in mind it was made in the late nineties. A few years after Jurassic Park sure, but not like nowadays. There’s a lot of miniature and more classic film making techniques used throughout Galaxy Quest, which fits the vibe perfectly.
Everything comes together to make it much more than a parody. There is clear affection for sci-fi, and whilst it does take some well-deserved light jabs at convention goers, they also get their time to shine.
You don’t have to like sci-fi to enjoy Galaxy Quest. But guess what, if you do like this film, you like sci-fi! It’s not just a send-up; it’s a genuinely strong film with a tonne of heart.
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