Front page of current issueContents of current issue
What's in Festivale, including cover stories, the tour, indices, and what's new
what's new, Festivale's revision history Go to the online shopping mall where all the on-line stores areThe Bookroom: News, reviews, linksReel Life: The movie section with film commentary, coming attractions and release dates, links pages and more.Technology BytesFestivale's guide to Melbourne and Victoria, photos, maps, linksFestivale's guide to Melbourne and Victoria, photos, maps, links

A Reel Life film section

Issue: Autumn 2000

Galaxy Quest (1999) movie review

Fan-tastic

Once upon a time there was a television show about humans and aliens travelling around space in a ship, solving improbable problems in a ship that seemed to be built to provide dangerous maintenance.

The show was cancelled despite the Commander (Tim Allen)'s charm, and Lt Tawny Madison (Sigourney Weaver)'s bustline and efficient repeating of the computer's declarations, and despite the once-lauded stage actor's present (Alan Rickman).

But it lives on in repeats and fan conventions and events where the cast, as a group, appear together like a dysfunctional family.

Movie poster, Galaxy Quest; Festivale film review

Movie poster, Galaxy Quest
The show has been cancelled...but the adventure is just beginning.

Except that the Commander has taken a job without the rest of the team, and has mistaken his employers for fanboys - which they are: the ultimate fanboys. They are aliens who do not understand the concept of fiction, who have come to Earth to beg the Commander and his crew to board a working recreation of their ship, and to take arms against alien invaders.

At once a spoof of conventions (think Bimbos of the Death Sun), the L.A. television system, science fiction shows in general and actors in particular this film is excellent fun with a willing cast, a fun idea, and well-executed.

Bookmark and Share

Like us on facebook

Add your comments

by Ali Kayn
Due for Australian release 6 April 2000
For credits and official site details, see below
Search Festivale for more work by the film-makers below.

See also:

Just the facts:

Title: Galaxy Quest (1999)
Written by: David Howard (story, scr), Robert Gordon
Directed by: Dean Parisot
running time: 102 mins
rating: PG


The Players: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mithcell


Official website:
IMDb entry


For session times of current films, use the cinema listings on the Movie links page. For scheduled release dates, see the coming attractions section.

For more information about this movie, check out the internet movie database.
For the latest additions to Festivale, check out the change history section.

Coming attractions, Movies by month, Australian movie release datesIndex of movie reviewscontents of current FestivaleA Reel Life movie section