December 12, 1999 - A familiar theme of a nobody realizing his purpose in life seems to thrust its message throughout this satire of a niche in television worship. On the surface, Galaxy Quest found my funny zone and tickled me at a comfortably constant pace from start to finish. The well known cast provided the perfect blend of film meets television and director Dean Parisot didn't miss a beat in the comedic timing.

I found the opening of the film to be just as a surprise as all the non-trite slapstick scattered in all the right places. We see the television actors of the popular SCI-fi series, Galaxy Quest, make personal appearances at a convention of the show's fans and later endorsing a retail store's opening. (This may get confusing.) Jason Nesmith who plays Commander Peter Quincy Taggart (Tim Allen) becomes invited - unbeknownst to him - by the most simpleton of aliens (Thermians). After returning to earth and realizing his previous whereabouts, he is again summoned by the Thermians for his help as Commander. Unable to convince his fellow cast members of the true story mission, he takes his part with the head Thermian, Mathesar played by Enrico Colantoni. Moments later he is joined by his fellow T.V. crew members in the Klatu Nebula, only after these type-casted actors (of the tv show Galaxy Quest) fear of losing a much needed gig. From this point on, earth is left far behind on the other side of a worm hole and the actors are forced to take on their characters in hopes of defending the Thermians from arch nemesis Sarris.

Sigourney Weaver's character Gwen DeMarco as communications officer Lt. Tawny Madison brings her new look to life as a blonde bombshell with a nice set of teeth. Alan Rickman's portrayal of the fed up Alexander Dane as Dr. Lazarus showed us the snobbery associated with Shakespearean stage versus commercial television. Tony Shalhoub adds yet another character to his repertoire as Fred Kwan playing Tech Sergeant Hen - a complete opposite character of what we are conditioned to viewing in scenes from a spaceship's engine room. When Tommy Webber finds himself actually driving the NSEA Protector as gunner/navigator Lieutenant Laredo (Daryll Mitchell) his facial expressions quickly plummet from over confidence to complete desparity upon realizing his responsibility.

The visuals and effects must be seen on the big screen and were a perfect compliment to the story - not overdone and at times quite complex in the case of the rock monster.

In this film, you will see countless references to that popular SCI-fi series of the 70's. Perhaps there will be a club or there even is a club which will obsessively count each and every one.This is a film to go see and have fun, laugh, think and remember all in one just as Dreamworks combines the film's genre into science fiction action comedy. Oh, and since Sam Rockwell isn't wearing red as Guy Fleegman playing crew member #6 you can be assured he doesn't die.

After seeing the movie, I do hope William Shatner doesn't get chosen to defend some Alien race. Who knows who would get killed.