Star Trek Beyond (2016)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

In what may be the final installation of the J.J. Abrams Star Trek universe, Star Trek Beyond sees the Enterprise crew venture to the far reaches of the galaxy, where no man, woman…erm, person, has gone before. Faced by unthinkable challenges, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) must rely on their crew more than ever, as the fate of mankind hangs in the balance. 

Star Trek Beyond opens to a caricature of Star Trek, a band of freaks and geeks that can’t quite hit the right emotional notes. Whether it’s Kirk, Bones (Karl Urban), or someone else entirely, the comedy that they exude in the early going falls flat–appearing almost as if the actors were trying too hard. I worried about what might happen as the film moved forward. Would the characters continue to be shallow versions of themselves? Would the crew that we’ve all come to know and love leave a horrid taste in my mouth? I’m happy to say that Director Justin Lin and Writers Simon Pegg and Doug Jung figure this thing out after the first fifteen minutes or so, bringing balance to a film that hedged a bit too much at the start. 

There are aspects of Star Trek Beyond that I found shallow. Krall (Idris Elba), the film’s antagonist/villain, and Jaylah (Sofia Boutella) feel underdeveloped, as if they are simply there because they have to be. This is a film about Kirk and his crew being challenged, separated, and forced to dig deep into their respective toolboxes in order to survive and bring peace to the universe. Krall and Jaylah seem like afterthoughts, devices used to drive an exceptional plot. There isn’t much to them, and as much as I felt there was potential for each–they are never fully realized, and that’s a disappointment. 

Beyond those aspects of the film, however, Star Trek Beyond is a stellar film–one filled with gorgeous scenery, spunky performances, and exceptional storytelling. Lin, who I know from quite a few of the Fast and the Furious films, is known for his overexaggerated films (though I love those films), and I can certainly understand why others shame them as being bad cinema. Star Trek Beyond is no exception to this–though, teaming up with Abrams (producer) and the writing duo allows him to fully flesh out a universe that is immersive, expansive, and perfectly exaggerated. We are talking about Star Trek after all–and the heart-warming views that, again and again, fill the screen are perfect for this franchise, but even more so for this trilogy. Every new set, whether practical or computer generated (with the exception of one or two CGI faux pas that aggravated me), was breathtaking. I was pulled back into this world time and time again, seeing reimagined versions of what had come many times before, but also expanding on an already massive universe in a respectful and appropriate way. 

What’s so appealing about this film is the fact that each character has an opportunity to grow–to become more of themselves. Yet, at the same time, they, more than ever, are reliant on their crew, their family. Star Trek Beyond presents a perfect balance of individuality and camaraderie that never fades, only grows stronger as the film progresses. Without divulging each character’s arc within this film, it’s fair to say that each and every one of the Enterprise crew has the chance to thrive. Sulu (John Cho) is given the most growth in my opinion–calling back to the original series and its films, even paying homage to George Takei in the most subtle and beautiful way. These are the beautiful notes that Pegg, Jung, and Lin create throughout the course of Star Trek Beyond, and I can’t give them enough credit for creating something so incredible in this regard. 

Star Trek Beyond is a brilliant conclusion to Star Trek (‘09) and Star Trek Into Darkness, presenting these beloved characters in a way that is effective and appropriate. There are stunning aesthetic moments, and a handful that infuriate. I felt that there was a disconnect between the tertiary characters and viewers–particularly Krall and Jaylah. Though, the crew, the one most important to the film and the greater Star Trek universe are developed wonderfully–and this is the bread and butter of the film, the charm of the canon. 

Directed by Justin Lin. 

Written by Simon Pegg, Doug Jung, Gene Roddenberry, Roberto Orci, Patrick McKay, & John D. Payne. 

Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldaña, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, etc. 

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING