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 TV series Galaxy Quest has come to the end of its series. During its run it obviously garnered a large cult following and cashing in on this the actors make appearances at Sci-Fi conventions in order to make the best of their short-lived fame.

Amongst their legions of geeky fans are a particularly strange group of 'Trekkies'. Inviting them to their own 'starship', the crew of Galaxy Quest find to their horror that they have in fact landed up on a real space ship where their TV programme is seen as being a historical document. Thrown into a position where their hosts actually believe them to be their TV personas, the actors are forced to take on their fictitious roles in order to save their hosts from a savage group of alien adversaries.

It has been a while since a worthwhile spoof came along and Galaxy Quest hits the spot nicely. There are some genuinely funny scenes and the film remains consistently amusing. Look out for some subtle in jokes (Sigourney Weaver being stuck in a tunnel a la Alien) and while the target of the spoof are series like Star Trek the treatment is never condescending but affectionately presented.

Another reason the film is as enjoyable as it is is because of the excellent performances by all concerned. Tim Allen is suitable Captain Kirkish but the accolades are reserved for an exceptionally funny Sigourney Weaver and the excellent Alan Rickman. Obviously the actors thoroughly enjoyed the chance to play roles which are far removed from what audiences have come to expect to see them in. This appears to have translated very positively onto the screen.

It's a welcome change to see a spoof and a good one at that. It's also nice to come across a comedy that avoids the recent smutty trend. Galaxy Quest is a warm and consistently funny film.