2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the beloved Star Trek tv series, and with it comes the franchise’s latest film, Beyond. The third entry in the rebooted series which began in 2009 with the J.J. Abrams movie, Beyond contains much of the same material that made the original show so iconic, while also delivering plenty of blockbuster action to sustain modern audiences. And while it may not go down as a great installment, it still provides some much-needed spirit and energy in an otherwise lackluster summer movie season.
Taking place three years into the five-year mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the story begins with a look at each crew member’s personal lives. Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is beginning to grow weary of traveling into the endless depths of space and wonders if it is where his true destiny lies; while his right hand man Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) is contemplating leaving the Federation, upon learning that his alternate self (played by Leonard Nimoy) has recently died. We also see here some of the sacrifices that other characters have made, such as leaving spouses and families behind.
Meanwhile, a distress signal from an unidentified planet calls for the Enterprise’s help. Yet as the crew responds, they wind up getting ambushed by an alien named Krall (Idris Elba) and find themselves stranded and separated on this system, while their ship is destroyed by the attackers. From there, Kirk and company must reunite and rescue those under Krall’s captivity.
With Abrams having been busy making the latest Star Wars and numerous other projects, and with the screenwriter of the last two movies Roberto Orci departing at the last minute, Fast & Furious director Justin Lin stepped in to helm this sequel. As expected, Lin’s knack for creating engaging and explosive action sequences allows him to do the same here. The fight sequences, set pieces and character designs are all aesthetically pleasing and what viewers would expect from a big-budget sci-fi movie; but if you’re looking for a total return to the intellectual basis of the original Trek series, you won’t find it here. It’s a pretty rudimentary vengeance plot, and there’s no shortage of high-octane action.
Still, that’s not to say that the film doesn’t contain a lot of the classic Trek elements or isn’t balanced. In fact, the script by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung injects itself with an appropriate amount of humor, characterization, action and sci-fi lingo to satisfy longtime fans. Pegg, who plays Montgomery Scott in the new movies and whose previous writing credits include the cult comedies Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Paul, once again proves his knack for delightfully quippy dialogue and action-propelled humor. As the crew is split into groups of two following the destruction of the Enterprise, this opens the door for some great banter between Spock and Doctor “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban), Kirk and Chekov (the late Anton Yelchin), and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and Sulu (John Cho).
And while the returning cast flawlessly steps back into their roles, with supporting characters like Chekov and Sulu getting much more screen time, the real scene-stealer in Beyond is newcomer Sofia Boutella as the extraterrestrial ally Jaylah. Playing a character who’s somewhat sassy and unpredictable, Boutella is a welcome addition to an already lovable ensemble. Likewise, seeing Elba play the vengeance-seeking antagonist is a treat as well, as his commanding screen presence coincides well with the film’s energetic tone.
Beyond isn’t without its flaws, but for longtime Trek fans and casual audiences alike it provides a fun moviegoing experience, and is in many ways a cut above its most recent predecessors.
3.5 out of 5 Stars
