Nerds That Geek Movie Review - 'Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

'My friends, we've come home.'
- Captain James T. Kirk

In a world of seven billion human beings, it would seem that our ability to impact other people on this planet has become limited. Yet that cannot be further from the truth. Everything we do in our lives has an effect on one another. To those we see on a regular basis, it is obviously a direct impact, but whether we know it or not, the little things we do influence so much.  

For example, it's easy to spread our emotions. A bad day spreads quickly, but so does a smile. On a larger scale, we are now learning that scientifically our actions are potentially changing our world and our future. As the evidence continues to be researched it is odd to reflect on the fact that years ago such ideas were considered wild speculation. But theories are what science fiction thrives on and such an idea gave way to the plot of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

As they to head back to Earth to face the consequences of their actions, the crew of the late U.S.S. Enterprise is forced to delay their return. For an unknown probe has arrived over Earth and it is slowly terraforming the planet. The crew learns that the probe's signal is designed to communicate with an extinct species on our planet, the humpback whale. Now in order to save the future they must return to the past and bring back the only species that can end this attack.  

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​Released in 1986, The Voyage Home quickly became the top grossing Star Trek film for many years to come. Its success is warranted, since placing the crew from the 23rd Century into the 20th Century was a stroke of genius. This is a film full of laughs and is outright fun through and through. In fact, there are just too many scenes to go through that leave you in stitches when it comes to seeing these future fish out of water. For me though, my favorite interaction is the scene with Kirk and Spock on the bus with the fine young man who loves his heavy metal.  

The laughs are welcome, especially with the darkness that surrounded the prior two films. In fact, one can look at this as the conclusion of a tough trilogy of movies, culminating with the satisfying sight of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A. I remember the first time I saw this film my mind kept drifting back to the sad fact that the Enterprise was nowhere to be found and we would never see her again. That simple moment when they reveal the Big E once again was the proper finale for all the hardships this poor crew had been through recently and completes this film in a satisfying manner when we see Kirk, once again sitting in the only place he truly belongs, the captain's chair.  

Yet as is expected from Trek its message is warranted and relevant today. The dangers of what actions we take that are endangering our future is clear, but is handled with enough subtlety that a heavy-handed approach stays out of the way. The message is made easy to digest by the actions of the crew. At no point do they question the risk or potential possibility of failure in their mission. They simply act, and in the process, save the day. It is that desire to work for the greater good that makes the movie work and is clearly why the film was so successful. I would venture to say this is the first time we really see the crew of the Enterprise as pure heroes, and their actions remind us that what we do today, matters tomorrow.  

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