Film
The special effects are dodgy, the fans zealous, and Alan Rickman is in devastatingly droll form in Galaxy Quest, an adventure caper that both satirises sci-fi fandom while heeding the joy and heart of these communities at their best. Rickman, Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver play actors who used to be leads in a cult Star Trek-like television series, and now spend their days making appearances at fan conventions and lamenting the yesteryears of serious acting. (Rickman staring morosely into the mirror in alien-makeup: “I played Richard the Third.”) When they’re approached by a group of kooky beings who ask them for help, and lead them to a recreation of their famed starship, the actors don’t think much of it. It’s probably a group of hardcore fans. But up to the skies they boldly go, and they discover too late that their alien fans are all-too real. The days of make-believe are over. Rebecca Liu
