In the movie, "Galaxy Quest" was a popular sci-fi TV series from 1978-1982 about the crew of the spaceship NSEA Protector. The show is similar to STAR TREK. Captain and Commander Peter Quincy Taggart is played by Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen). He is vain, egotistical, and the idolatry of his fans has gone to his head.
Dr. Lazurus of Tev'Mek is played by Sir Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman). In the show he is an alien with a vast intellect and psionic abilities, obviously a parody of Spock. As a classically trained actor, he is cynical and resents being typecast in a role he considers beneath him. Ironically, in the movie Rickman is never seen without his Dr. Lazarus prosthetic makeup.
Lieutenant Tawny Madison is played by Gwen DiMarco (Sigourney Weaver). She is the Computer Officer of the Protector and also resents her "stupid job" of simply repeating the computer's announcements and adding sex appeal to the show. Sigourney Weaver as a blonde is unrecognizable from her "Ripley" roles in the ALIEN film series.
Others in the crew include Tech Sergeant Chen played by Fred Kwan (Tony Shalhoub), in charge of the engine room and "digital conveyor". Lieutenant Laredo played by Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell), is a Wesley Crusher clone. Crewman Number 6 played by Guy Fleegman (Sam Rockwell), is an "extra".
Eighteen years after "Galaxy Quest" is cancelled, the washed-up cast are reduced to making personal appearances at fan conventions and store openings to make a living. Only Jason enjoys the fanatical adulation, and at one convention he is approached by genuine aliens. They are Thermians, a peaceful and naive race who have watched "Galaxy Quest" shows and misinterpretted them as "historical documents".
The cast of the TV show are whisked aboard the Thermians' spaceship by Commander Mathesar (Enrico Colantoni) to help save them from an intergallactic war with General Sarris (Robin Sachs), a ruthless reptilian warlord. Sarris wants the Omega 13, a device located in the Protector. But since the Omega 13 was only used in the cliff-hanger final episode, nobody knows what it is or what it does.
(a rock monster chases Nesmith)
Alexander Dane: "You're just going to have to kill it."
Jason Nesmith: "Kill it? Well, I'm open to any suggestions."
Tommy Webber: "Go for the eyes, like in episode 22."
Jason Nesmith: "He doesn't have any eyes, Tommy!"
Tommy Webber: "Go for the mouth, then, the throat, his vulnerable spots!"
Jason Nesmith: "It's a rock! It doesn't have any vulnerable spots."
Guy Fleegman: "I know! You construct a weapon. Look around, can you form some sort of rudimentary lathe?"
There is a complicated series of events which culminates in the Thermians learning the meaning of "fiction" and the TV cast defeating Sarris. Then the spaceship crash lands on Earth, right onto the stage of a "Galaxy Quest" convention. As the TV cast steps onto the stage to an enthusiastic welcome by adoring fans, Sarris appears and is disintegrated by Jason. The ending is triumphant, with the crew of the Protector starring in an updated version of "Galaxy Quest".
GALAXY QUEST is an entertaining and clever comedy featuring playful acting. It is heart-warming and sweet, funny on its own, but much of the humour relies on the viewer's knowledge of STAR TREK. It's original and interesting, not to be taken seriously, with romance, slapstick, and excitement. The special effects are great, as is the production design. It puts other sci-fi parodies such as SPACEBALLS (1987) to shame. Overall, the film is an excellent tribute to the genre and it is tragic that there is not a "Galaxy Quest" TV show for us to watch.
Others in the cast include: Patrick Breen (Quellek), Missi Pyle (Laliari), Jed Rees (Teb), Justin Long (Brandon), Jeremy Howard (Kyle), Kaitlin Callum (Kaelyn), Jonathan Feyer (Hollister), Corbin Bleu (Young Tommy), Wayne Pere (Lathe), Sam Lloyd (Neru), Rainn Wilson (Lahnk), and many others. David Howard wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay with Robert Gordon. Music was composed by David Newman. Dean Parisot directed. Production budget was $45 million and the film grossed over $90,000,000.
