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List Price: $12.99 | | Label: Dreamworks Video
Salesrank: 7018
Released: May 2, 2000 |
| Our Price: $4.86 |
| Used Price: $1.90 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The alumni cast of a cult space TV show have to live out their roles when an alien race needs their help.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 26-DEC-2005
Media Type: DVD
Description of Galaxy Quest:
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 The Thermians are counting on it, having studied the "historical documents" of the Galaxy Quest TV show, and their hero worship (not to mention their taste for Monte Cristo sandwiches) is ultimately proven worthy, with the help of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
Galaxy Quest Reviews:
Galaxy Quest 
2009-12-19 - A little disclaimer: I held a little prejudice going into this movie; I do not like Tim Allen as a general rule. When this movie came out, I have to say that I wasn't interested at all. I wasn't into Star Trek, which this movie largely riffs on, and the movie looked cheesy from the initial trailers I saw. Add to that the fact that Tim Allen received top billing, and you might as well count the movie down for the count with me. But after hearing great word of mouth and seeing great reviews, I decided to put aside my prejudices when the blu-ray of the film was released recently.
Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver), Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman), Fred Kwan (Tony Shalhoub), and Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell) are the crew of a now defunct 80's sci-fi television show called Galaxy Quest. Relegated to appearances at fan conferences and the like, answering inane questions about the show, and repeating lines from the show they wish people would forget ("By Grabthar's hammer, by the sons of Worvan, you shall be avenged...") everyone is dealing with the fact that they are washed up has-beens living in the past and ready to throw in the towel. Just as their life seems meaningless a race of aliens asks for their help, thinking they are a real ship's crew, and the show is their "historical documents."
I definitely made the right choice in finally giving the movie a try. Like recent "spoof" movies like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Galaxy Quest mixes reverance and spoof with great characterizations and an amazing plot to create a hilarious and fun riff of the sci-fi genre. Written by David Howard and directed by Dean Parisot, Galaxy Quest utilizes homages to movies and TV series from Star Trek to Star Wars to get the feeling of real sci-fi films, knowing when, and when not, to take itself seriously. Not only does this help to amp up the comedy, but it also gives us characters we can believe when they're thrown into extraordinary situations.
The casting is phenomenal, making for a diverse, funny, and well acted movie. The true stand outs in the film are Alan Rickman as a thespian who used to actually be a respected actor, but is now stuck spewing ridiculous catch phrases for fanboys and being upstaged by the Shatneresque Jason Nesmith; and Sam Rockwell as Guy Fleegman, a throwaway former cast member who died on his only episode of the show that is consistently worried throughout the movie that he's going to die in real life because he died on the show. Naturally, though, the whole cast is stunning, as could be noted by the pedigree of acting included here.
If I had one quibble with the movie, though, it would have to be the way the alien race is portrayed. I know they're not even humanoid creatures, but when they take the appearance of being human they could have been a little more natural, and not as stiff, or, dare I say it, annoying. They get better throughout the course of the movie, but they are still more or less caricatures throughout the movie and should have been just a little more fleshed out.
All in all I have to say that the film was extremely enjoyable, and I highly recommend it. If you enjoy Star Trek, Star Wars, or well done comedy spoofs, you're almost guaranteed to enjoy this movie.
4.5/5
The perfect mix of sci-fi, comedy, and action! 
2009-12-19 - How do the actors in Star Trek behave when they take their costumes off and go home? What do they do years after the series has been canceled?
And just what DOES happen to those radio signals of old Star Trek (and Gilligan) shows escaping the Earth, and traveling outwards at the speed of light?
The Thermians discovered these "historical documents" (unfortunately for the Thermians, they had not invented fantasy, lying, or acting), and develop their society based on the principles of "Galaxy Quest" (a mock version of Star Trek) and its crew. But another race is now fighting the Thermians, and winning. The Thermians need the commander of the ship, the NSEA Protector. They don't need the Protector, however, because, based on the historical documents, they built their own.
Thus the adventures begin.
The similarities to the original Star Trek series are interspersed throughout, and done well. The bad dudes are very bad, and the Thermians are really just lovable. No wonder they are losing! But the key element of this movie is the transformation of the Protector's crew from actors to space-faring adventurers. The vital connection they have with their groupies back on Earth is also well done.
Great movie! The extras include the deleted scenes, which you won't find on the earlier VHS editions.
Feedback
2009-12-15 - I ordered this DVD on October 17 and received on October 24 (fast service from Amazon, as usual). The item was received in excellent ("New") condition. My family enjoys watching Galaxy Quest - an extremely funny movie and great cast. We had this movie on VHS, but we no longer have a VCR, so I ordered the DVD through Amazon.com. Thanks so much!
Affectionate Spoof of a Sci Fi Phenom
2009-11-15 - GALAXY QUEST could have been the greatest STAR TREK film ever made. I wonder if the filmmakers had bothered pitching it to the Trek franchise. Can you imagine if Shatner had played the lead? Shatner playing Shatner playing Kirk. If the original Trek cast had been in this movie--and it would not have been tough to taylor it a bit back to its original source--it could've been a hilarious classic in the Trek canon.
But I don't want to take anything away from the cast in the film. Tim Allen really breaks out of his stand-up/sitcom persona and plays a Shatner-esque role. I was really surprised as to how good he was in this movie.
Sigourney Weaver is almost too intimidating as a serious actress. Depsite the blond hair and push-up bra, she's still Sigourney Weaver, Academy Award nominated actress. In GHOSTBUSTERS, she played the straight gal to Bill Murray, an Academy Award nominated comedian. In GALAXY QUEST, she's playing another washed-up sci fi actress...but I still see Sigourney Weaver! Wasn't too distracting and she was very good. (But when you think about it, how great could some of the typecast actors and actresses have been if they hadn't been pigeon-holed by a iconic role?)
Alan Rickman is another incredibly talented actor (although best known as Hans Gruber, the slick German mastermind in DIE HARD). If he hadn't been hidden under his silly alien makeup, his impressive talent might have been distracting as well--but it's not! He's excellent. The rest of the cast is great as well, especially Tony Shalhoub and Sam Rockwell.
One of the reasons I waited to see this film was because I thought it would goof on the Trek fans. With scenes at a sci-fi convention and fans as characters, I was afraid that the film would pile on to make fun of them. Kind of like when Shatner did the "Saturday Night Live" sketch where he tells the Trekkies to "get a life." Funny, but too easy of a target.
Well, GALAXY QUEST doesn't take that easy route. It doesn't poke fun at the fans. In fact, the fans actually come out as heroes in some scenes. It's a film that understands the fan's affection and doesn't insult them.
A funny and fun movie! Check it out.
"I've got one dumb job to do on this show, and I'm doing it"!
2009-10-04 - I thought Galaxy Quest was funny, smart and beautifully acted the first time I saw it, and it holds up after repeated viewings. The writing is first-class, essential for any good film. But the talented cast - Alan Rickman, Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell and surprise standout, Enrico Colantoni as the lead Thermian - wring every laugh and, yes, every poignant moment out of the script and its unlikely situations. All Star Trek fans should love it for its knowing and affectionate spoof of the shows and sci-fi conventions. But lovers of good writing, fine acting and comedy in general should enjoy this movie too.
The extras are a treat, lots of interviews revealing interesting tidbits, like the way Enrico Colantoni developed the Thermian way of speaking and moving which was then taken up by the other actors playing the aliens. It was funny to learn too that Sigourney Weaver had to fight to get her part because the filmmakers didn't want anyone who had actually done sci-fi! As she says, who better to spoof the genre than someone who's been there and done that? (She's the one whose character has "one dumb job" to do in the TV show the Thermians think is a documentary).
This film, and particularly the deluxe edition DVD, are highly recommended for a good time.
