Premise: While on a rescue mission, the U.S.S. Enterprise is attacked and shot down by raiders led by the mysterious Krall (Idris Elba), who steal a dangerous artifact and take most of the crew prisoner. Now it’s up to Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and co. to rescue the Enterprise’s crew and find out what Krall has up his sleeve.
I’ve been one of the rebooted Star Trek franchise’s most ardent defenders for a long time. I think the first one is a stroke of genius nearly equal to Wrath of Khan and Undiscovered Country, and I had a great time with Into Darkness despite its flaws. I get why hardcore Trekkers wouldn’t like them, but I think J.J. Abrams made two movies that were true to the spirit of Star Trek while giving them a more action-oriented, Star Wars-esque flair. So Star Trek Beyond, this time directed by Justin Lin of Fast and Furious fame, had my attention from the get-go. The first Sabotage trailer was a misfire, but after that the marketing found its footing and has gotten me really interested. After seeing Star Trek Beyond, I was very much satisfied, and while it probably won’t be in my best of the year list or anything, it’s a really enjoyable movie and a highlight of the summer.
The best part of Star Trek Beyond, like its two predecessors, is the stellar cast. Getting replacements for the likes of Shatner, Nimoy, etc. was supposed to be impossible, but each crew member is pitch perfect. Chris Pine’s Kirk has always been a different beast than Shatner Kirk, a cocky young maverick with a lot of heart but much to learn. It’s been a lot of fun to watch, but here he really grows into his role as Captain Kirk, extraordinary leader. But the standout for me has always been Karl Urban as Bones. He’s always been a welcome presence in these films, the loyal friend to Kirk, the doctor with the terrible bedside manner, and the voice of reason all wrapped into one. He’s a delight! The rest of the crew all get their moments to shine, with Chekhov (played by the late, great Anton Yelchin) getting more to do than in either of the previous films. It was a nice sendoff for a terrific young actor cut down in his prime who will be greatly missed.
There’s another character in the film who pleasantly surprised me; Jaylah, an stranded alien played by Sofia Boutella. When she first popped up as Samuel L. Jackson’s right-hand woman in Kingsman, I thought she was solid but wasn’t sure if she had much of a future as an actress. I was absolutely wrong. She was great in this, playing off the cast really well (especially Scotty) and once again being a capable fighter who can kick some serious ass. I can’t wait to see her in The Mummy now!
Beyond also does something that Star Trek 09 and Into Darkness didn’t do; it made the story small. At its heart, this is a survival story about a few people trying to save their friends…with a creepy artifact that could destroy the universe as a MacGuffin. It’s not as action heavy (although, as befitting a Justin Lin film, the action is great!) as the previous films, focusing more on the exploration aspects of Star Trek, along with the usual banter between the cast that I’ve come to know and love. It still sticks to the general tone of the Abrams helmed-films, while going off in a new direction that I think worked very well.
As for weak points, the clearest is the villain, Krall. Idris Elba gives a fine performance, but the character is not a very strong one, especially in contrast to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Khan. We don’t learn his motivation until very late in the film, and while the reveal was good in theory, I think it would’ve been more powerful if it came at the midpoint. He also falls into the trap that Star Trek 09‘s Nero did; he’s forgettable. Nothing he does really stands out, he’s just sort of a generic doomsday villain for much of the film and has no depth. That said, Elba’s acting goes a long way in making him more bearable. Getting a terrific actor tends to do that.
There were also some periods where the film dragged on too much. There are definitely a lot of fun scenes with Kirk/Chekhov, Spock/Bones, Scotty/Jayla, but sometimes they went on for too long or repeated themselves. A bit more variety in their scenes and the film would’ve been greatly improved.
Star Trek Beyond is pretty much exactly what I wanted, a really fun adventure with the characters I’ve come to know and love. It’s got a good mix of action and exploration/survival, terrific humor (Simon Pegg was one of the writers!), and brings you back to a universe that’ll take your breath away. Not Wrath of Khan quality, but a satisfying watch nonetheless.
Score: B+
Pierce at the Movies 