Galaxy Quest – Deluxe Edition (1999/DreamWorks/Paramount DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: D     Film: D

 

 

Originally set up as a send-up of Star Trek and the many spin-off sequels and imitators of the time, Galaxy Quest (1999) was a send-up that played on every stereotype and cliché possible.  At the time, it was made by DreamWorks when they were an independent entity, but Paramount ironically owns it and have issued a Deluxe Edition DVD set with promos to relaunch the near-dead Trek franchise with an 11th feature film prequel that actually did some business and people liked.

 

Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tim Allen, Tony Shalhoub and Sam Rockwell are among the fine actors wasted in this tired exercise that is already dated, making fun of nerds past and only reminds us of how much worse TV space operas became after its release in a way that is not funny at all.  The David Howard/Robert Gordon script is so self-congratulatory that you can almost hear them laughing when you are not.  This has not even become a cult item and save the work of the late Stan Winston, is skipable altogether for wasting so much time and talent.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is on the weak side when it comes to detail despite being remastered, as the package claims, not counting any digital effects.  That makes the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix the default highlight of the disc with some good surrounds, though I bet would have sounded better in DTS.  Extras include Weaver raping, five making of featurettes, theatrical trailer, Thermian Race audio track and deleted scenes.  Some copies have a paperboard slipcase with a lenticular cover that features better picture quality than the DVD.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo