Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Galaxy Quest’

Written by Scott Edwards

​In my short years working on this website, I have been privy to going to several conventions and seeing just how much some television programs have changed people’s lives. Embracing their fandoms and completely losing it when meeting their heroes, I truly see how much it means to them. Even though I am not a die-hard fan of too many of these shows or movies, I still get blown away when seeing this happen and I still cannot get the scream of a woman out of my head when she was able to hug William Shatner, it was amazing. I love watching this with all of my heart and maybe someday I will be in the same shoes as so many other people and maybe, just maybe I will lose my mind when meeting one of my heroes.

Eighteen years after the famed show Galaxy Questhas gone off of the air, the crew of the NSEA Protector is still going strong, in a sense. Attending many conventions, all of the actors are willing to give their time to the fans that relish the series, even the former 'Commander', Jason Nesmith. As none of the group has ever been able to find another acting job as good as Galaxy Quest, they are getting burned out on their current run, with the exception of Jason who is still living the high life and is able to book jobs without the crew. When being shot down by his good friend Gwen, Jason leaves a convention early to get prepared for his next job when he is greeted by a group of Thermians that desperately need his help. 

Thinking that this is his next job, Jason agrees to play the Commander for them once again and in cocky fashion, has them fire all of the weapons aboard the 'ship' at Sarris who is looking to kill all of the Thermians. Thinking that his day is done, Jason is transported home, but when he finds out that he was really in outer space, he wants to share the experience with the rest of his friends. Getting visited by the head of the Thermians, Mathesar, Jason finds out that his actions have not made their situation and better and Sarris is still alive and on the warpath for revenge. Needing his crew with him, they are reluctant, but decide to take the gig since Jason has never shared one that he has booked alone with them.

Being transported to the Thermian's space station, they are all blown away that they are really in space and that their ship from the show, the NSEA Protector is in fact a reality. While everyone seems to have a hard time believing what they are seeing is real, Jason is more than happy to show them all of the sights. With everything in front of them being from the show they made many years ago, it all reacts to the motions that they went through on screen. After leaving the space dock, the group is greeted by Sarris who wants everyone to surrender, but when Jason tries to devise a plan to take down the hostile alien, he is found out as a fraud and now Sarris will take the first of many shots at the ship. Not being a true captain, Jason finds out that he has bitten off more than he can chew and regrets bringing his crew along, but it also ignites something in him…to join the team that he has neglected for so many years, and if everyone can get on the same page, the crew of the NSEAProtector will have a chance to save the world once again, but this time, for real.

Talk about a true fan movie, watching your favorite actors becoming the people that you have loved seeing on screen for so many years. This movie is just a joy to sit back and watch whenever you are feeling down, as it has so many aspects, not only of fandom, but a ton of character growth. I have watched this movie more than a few times and even though I like all of the characters in it, I still cannot get enough of Fred Kwan, the engineer on the ship. He never seems to be blown away by what is happening and is just along for the ride, and he steals every scene he is in. Watching as Jason is able to gain the trust of his crew, along with some of his fans, he shows great growth in the movie and shows that not everyone, even the head strong will always be stuck in their ways. Never Give Up, Never Surrender!

---