You don't have to be a trekkie to watch this but it helps if you've seen a few episodes. This film has another layer to it which makes it much more entertaining than a traditional Sci-Fi film. Very enjoyable, I could watch it again.
Be patient, it takes a while to get into but this film is great fun, a warmhearted and thoughtful send up of the star trek genre. Sigourney Weaver really has the right to star and I loved this film.
A very clever comedy pastiche of Star Trek. Indeed to get the most out of this film you need to be reasonably familiar with that TV series because this film effectively takes the mickey out of the actors, style and storylines in great detail. The story here is that Galaxy Quest is a long running sci-fi TV series and the actors are tired of having to attend conventions and deal with the obsessive fans some of whom seem to believe its all real. Jason (Tim Allen) plays the Commander and he loves the fan adulation and hogs the limelight much to the annoyance of his colleagues especially Alexander (Alan Rickman), a classically trained actor who hates his role and what he has been reduced to by his character in the series. But an alien race threatened by a violent enemy have watched the TV series from their distant plant, believe they have watched a real spaceship in action and come to get the 'crew' to help save them. Allen brilliantly captures a William Shatner persona and the script even channels the well documented resentment the Star Trek actors had for Shatner. It's all done tongue-in-cheek and often laugh out loud hilarity especially if you get the joke and this is where familiarity with Star Trek is vital. Yes it's all a bit silly but that's the point as the film highlights the silliness of fandom that often goes too far. Sigourney Weaver co-stars as the token 'sex symbol' decrying how her boobs are all that got her the part in the first place. It's Alan Rickman that really nails the famous position that Leonard Nimoy took to the role of Spock. He's really funny here and has the best story arc. Sam Rockwell is also hilarious as the bit player who gets caught up in the action and assumes he'll be killed mirroring the famous legend of 'Trek' bit players usually security men being routinely killed in every episode.