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CLEVER 'GALAXY' BOLDLY GOES FOR FUN.


Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

While there hasn't been an official ``Star Trek'' movie this year, fans of the show haven't been lacking for big-screen entertainment. First came ``Trekkies,'' an engaging documentary about die-hard followers of the series, which was followed in short order by ``Free Enterprise,'' in which ``Trek'' fans evolve into ``Swingers''-style dudes who bond with a bumbling Bill Shatner.

Now comes ``Galaxy Quest,'' an amusing and breezy comedy about what happens when a group of sci-fi series has-beens gets confused for real-deal action heroes by an alien race who watched their show on some kind of intergalactic in·ter·ga·lac·tic  
adj.
Being or occurring between galaxies: intergalactic space.



in
 satellite dish satellite dish
n.
A dish antenna used to receive and transmit signals relayed by satellite.



satellite dish

A parabolic antenna used to receive signals relayed by satellite.
. The naive extraterrestrials believe that the actors really are space studs (they also lament the misfortune of ``those poor people'' on ``Gilligan's Island'') and enlist them to battle their evil crustaceanlike adversaries.

The result is a playful send-up of science-fiction conventions (both the conferences and the customs) that has enough laughs to please audiences looking for Looking for

In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with.
 something a little light among all the year-end cinematic gloom.

While the movie isn't completely geared toward ``Star Trek'' and fantasy fans, the screenplay (written by David Howard For the baseball player, see .

David Howard (born December 8, 1961 in Enterprise, Alabama) is a former American football linebacker who played for eight seasons in the National Football League from 1985 to 1992. He also played for the Los Angeles Express of the USFL.
 and Peter Gordon Peter Gordon can refer to several people:
  • Peter Gordon, a psychology professor and researcher at Columbia University
  • Peter Gordon, a celebrity chef from New Zealand
  • Peter Gordon, a composer based in New York City
) contains plenty of sweet-natured humor that works on a deeper level if you're familiar with series lore. Of course, ``Galaxy Quest'' never strives for profundity; in fact, on the few occasions when director Dean Parisot (``Home Fries'') decides to go for the heartstrings, the movie veers into a maudlin maud·lin  
adj.
Effusively or tearfully sentimental: "displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals" Aldous Huxley. See Synonyms at sentimental.
 sentimentality not at all suited to its one-joke premise.

Fortunately, ``Galaxy Quest'' is mostly content to be clever, and Parisot is aided quite ably by a talented cast. Tim Allen plays the egotistical actor Jason Nesmith, the big-haired hambone who headed the ``Galaxy Quest'' cast. His compatriots include the buxom blonde, Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver Sigourney Weaver (born Susan Alexandra Weaver on October 8, 1949 in New York City) is an Oscar-nominated American actress. Early life
Weaver is the daughter of late NBC television executive Pat Weaver (d. 2002) and Elizabeth Inglis, a former British actress (d.
), who was the show's token babe, and Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman), a Shakespearean actor forever typecast by his alien makeup.

Since the show was canceled in 1982, Nesmith and his castmates have worked the convention and grand-opening circuit, signing autographs and eeking out a living. That changes when the Thermians, whom Nesmith mistakes as overzealous fans, tab the actors for real-life space work, beaming them up to a facsimile of the ``Galaxy Quest'' ship.

The film has knowing fun with a number of ``Trek'' cliches and myths: the ways extras tended to be killed in an episode's first five minutes, the bargain-basement sets and props, the petty bickering bick·er  
intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers
1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue.

2.
 among the actors and the love-hate relationship love-hate relationship Ambivalence Psychiatry A clinical complex characterized by Freudian impulses; love-hate is normal for children passing through the 'anal-sadistic' phase of development, in which there is often simultaneous love and 'murderous' hatred toward  that exists between fans and cast members. Everyone seems to be having great fun here, particularly Weaver, who gets a rare chance to display her comic chops, and the ascerbic Rickman, who nails every note as the bitter thespian who has been straight jacketed by his short stint as a Spock-like alien. Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell and Daryl Mitchell each make the most of their moments in finely drawn supporting roles.

``Galaxy Quest,'' like ``Star Trek'' itself, is hardly great art, but it's certainly good fun. And in a season dominated by some pretty serious fare, the movie has the gumption to boldly go
  • For the Star Trek quotation from which this phrase is best known, see Where no man has gone before.
  • For the play-by-web turn-based strategy game, see To Boldly Go.



To Boldly Go (commonly known as TBG
 to a mostly unexplored region - the audience's funny bone - coming up a winner in the process.

The facts

The film: ``Galaxy Quest'' (PG; mild language, action violence and mild sensuality).

The stars: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Dean Parisot. Screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon. Released by DreamWorks Pictures.

Running time: One hour, 42 minutes.

Playing: Citywide.

Our rating: Three stars
COPYRIGHT 1999 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1999, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Title Annotation:L.A. Life
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Article Type:Movie Review
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Dec 24, 1999
Words:586
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