Movie Review: Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond/Paramount Pictures/Dir. by Justin Lin/120 min./Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence

In terms of how to do a reboot of a beloved franchise right, I believe there's Nolan's Dark Knight films and J.J. Abrams' Star Trek films (also known as the Kelvin timeline to fans).  Both series took what was great about the properties, made them their own, focused on character as well as spectacle, were impeccably cast, and allowed their actors to shine.  Both series have films that are universally revered among fans and films that are highly divisive among fans, in spite of the fact that all entries were heralded by critics.

2009's Star Trek was revelatory.  Rather than do dry impersonations of the classic Star Trek actors, the new cast simply inhabited the roles with such confidence that trivialities, like the fact that they really don't look like the original cast looked at that age, became completely moot.  They simply were the crew of the Enterprise.  In addition, thanks to Abrams' sure-handed direction, the film felt more purely cinematic than any previous Star Trek movie.  Space was 3-dimensional, meaning that ships in space didn't always look like they were on a horizontal plane.  Battles packed a huge punch and stakes were immediately through the roof.  (I mean, they blew up Vulcan in the first hour for heavens' sake!)

For many, Star Trek Into Darkness was a huge misstep.  I am not among those people.  While I can understand people being disappointed that the second film mirrored the second film in the original film series, but I found it to be a thoughtful and intelligent look at the ideas of fate and change in destiny based on the new timeline.  This Kirk would make these choices.  This Spock would scream "Khaaaaaan!" and then hunt the madman down.  I loved it.

However, for those who wish that Into Darkness would have just gone exploring into space, your wish is granted with Star Trek Beyond.  No Federation hearings, no flirting with alien women at the Academy, no villain who turns out to be the classic series villain that you suspected it was from the beginning.  The "Beyond" in the title is telling the truth.

The Enterprise is in year three of its five year mission.  The crew has slipped into a malaise of routine and diplomatic negotiations, and the senior crew is going through several personal existential crisis. The ship docks at the Yorktown, a deep space station/city and Captain Kirk hopes that the respite will invigorate the crew, but is also secretly considering giving up his chair for a desk job at the station. Fortunately, that decision will have to wait because a mysterious alien arrives asking for help in recovering her missing crew.

The ensuing journey ends up separating the crew of the Enterprise and stranding them on a planet with no apparent means of escape and encounter a new ally named Jaylah (beautifully played by Sofia Boutella), a strong-willed alien who informs the crew about the evil Krall (Idris Elba), who is the reason they are in their current predicament.  They must organize a plan to save crew members who were captured and stop Krall from his evil plans.

Star Trek Beyond contains all of the elements that make this franchise fantastic, including great performances, viscerally exciting action sequences, stunning visuals (particularly the amazingly conceived Yorktown space station), and another wonderful Michael Giacchino score.  However, it separates itself in plot and in the fact that it definitely has a more old-school Star Trek vibe.  In some ways, it feels like a lost installment of the original film series.  In fact, in theme and design, it reminded me most specifically of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, which happens to be one of my very favorite of the original cast films.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the movie is the terrific direction from Justin Lin, whose hiring as director was quite controversial when first announced.  After all, when I think cerebral sci-fi, my first thought isn't the dude from the Fast and Furious movies.  However, he does a wonderful job balancing character and action with a truly engaging visual flair.  

All in all, Star Trek Beyond is a fun and entertaining movie.  It does feel a bit like a place holder film, but it's so enjoyable that you won't care and it is a more than worthy entry in the Abrams-era films.

Grade: A-