GALAXY QUEST

title: GALAXY QUEST
year: 1999
cast: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Tony Shaloub
rating: ***1/2

What really works in this, a fast-paced comedy depicting the cast of a fictional Star Trek-like TV series, "Galaxy Quest"... whose unemployed veterans go from an autograph show into a real life outer space battle... is the last half exceeds the clever premise (borrowed from "The Three Amigos") that puts you headlong in the adventure with terrific CGI special effects that never get tiresome. The nonstop action doesn't take away from the characters: Tim Allen in the William Shatner role... although his famous overacting's filtered into the Spock/McCoy grump, Alan Rickman. Sigourney Weaver is also good but a frantic Sam Rockwell, as the other (unnamed) crewman who will always die on the series, steals the show. And a side-plot involving a geeky fanboy back on earth, aiding his mentors from his home computer, is a terrific, and essential, bonus.