-Written by Kyle Bain.
Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the rest of the Enterprise crew uncover a nefarious plot by the Son’a to attack the peaceful, agrarian Ba’ku people. Can Picard and his team stop a potential genocide, or will Star Trek: Insurrection see them fail?
Met with a fair amount of criticism, Star Trek: Insurrection is a film that takes the Star Trek canon in a slightly different direction. More direct comedy plays a significant role in this narrative, and while that comedy is sometimes out of place in the grand scheme of this film, I believe it’s fair to say that it ultimately works. Nearly every character experiences something new within their greater character arcs, and some of their stories take on a heavily comedic tone. Worf (Michael Dorn) and Riker (Jonathan Frakes) are prime examples of this, with Worf experiencing something akin to puberty and Riker falling head over heels in love with Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). Again, while aspects of the comedy are unique to the whole of Star Trek, I feel that these instances provide a levity that helps to juxtapose and balance out Star Trek: Insurrection. There are moments of this film that remind me of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, which is my favorite Star Trek property to date. There’s an incredibly inviting tone that spans the course of this science-fiction adventure, one that feels fresh, and most certainly welcome.
With that, however, I feel that there are aspects of this narrative that feel a tad out of place–and that I can’t justify in the grand scheme of things. While I don’t have a huge frame of reference, it feels like the shift in Worf’s character is out of place and that some of these characters develop in ways that, while effective in developing comedy, is a bit unbecoming. There were multiple occasions in which I found myself questioning the validity of some of the character development in the grand scheme of Star Trek, even though I couldn’t always place my finger on why I felt that way or what I felt should have been different. Star Trek: Insurrection plays too much with the boundaries of the sophistication of this franchise, and there are certainly moments in which it goes a bit too far.
Something I always find pleasant within this universe is the fact that the films and shows often create a beautiful juxtaposition in the alternating settings. The use of the planet of Ba’ku to juxtapose the technically sophisticated Enterprise (and the other ships) helps to expand the narrative and the depth of what Director Frakes and Writers Rick Berman and Michael Piller attempt to create within Star Trek: Insurrection. By creating such drastically different worlds, viewers are able to see a much broader scope of this universe, brought to light by vibrant natural colors, sweeping landscapes, and a simplicity that exists in each of the Ba’ku people.
There’s a part of me that wishes the Son’a race, particularly those antagonists, were fully fleshed out, as there were a handful of times when I simply forgot that they existed, being forced into the dark catacombs of my mind. Star Trek: Insurrection is a relatively quick watch–and for the most part I feel that this is beneficial to the product, but I also believe that two or three additional moments focusing on Son’a baddie Ru’afo (F. Murray Abraham) and providing more of a reason to appreciate the character could have potentially worked wonders for Star Trek: Insurrection. There are a couple of missed opportunities in that regard, but it’s clear that Berman and Piller made a genuine effort to focus on our heroes, rather than their adversaries.
There’s something about Star Trek: Insurrection that, while I certainly enjoyed the film, caused it to feel a bit hollow. There’s depth in the dialogue, the Enterprise crew is front and center throughout, and the world building (as always) impressed me from start to finish. There’s a bit of depth added as a result of the unique connection between the Son’a and Ba’ku people, and there are moments when some of the Ba’ku people were incredibly compelling. I attest my discontent with this aspect of the film to the…erm, interesting choices made in regard to our beloved characters. This film often felt as if the team behind it attempted to make change for the sake of change, without really providing a reason as to why. This really is the only aspect of Star Trek: Insurrection that fell completely flat for me–and while it’s only one issue amongst a great number of successes, it drags the film down quite a bit.
Star Trek: Insurrection is neither a great film nor a bad film–but I can certainly understand arguments for both. It possesses many of the higher qualities of previous Star Trek properties, yet it falls short in other regards. Though, the beautiful visuals are what ultimately sold me on this film, and what allowed me to dive in and appreciate what First Officer William Riker brought to life.
Directed by Jonathan Frakes.
Written by Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller.
Starring Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy, Anthony Zerbe, etc.
6.5/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE
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