Director: Justin Lin
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Sofia Boutella, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Lydia Wilson
Rating: 12A
Running Time: 122 mins
Release Date: July 22nd, 2016
STAR TREK: BEYOND arrives at a peculiar time in the franchises history. The 2009 reboot was a large success, financially and critically but also in bringing the STAR TREK name to a modern audience that might have only known it as “the one that isn’t STAR WARS”. Following the success of that, a sequel followed in 2013 and while STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS repeated the success of its predecessor, response was slightly colder. The thrill of the first film and its sense of fun had been replaced by excessive CGI destruction and a moody Benedict Cumberbatch, leaving the film with a dour, tired aftertaste.
After helming the first two, J.J. Abrams left for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS and Roberto Orci was set to not just write, but also direct the third STAR TREK film, only for him to be replaced by Justin Lin and new writers, including cast mate Simon Pegg, were hired to rewrite the script.
While never quite reaching the energetic levels of the 2009 film but also avoiding the bland self serious tone of its sequel, BEYOND sits comfortably as a step forward for the franchise, a new mission statement where the fun has been cranked up and the focus is on the audience enjoying themselves. With no pretenses about itself, this installment is a rollicking space adventure, aided by an ensemble of actors who have perfected their characters.
After spending two films fairly focused on Earth, BEYOND finally spreads its wings and flies out into the whole wide universe, as we join the Enterprise three years or so into its exploration of the universe. However, upon crash landing on an unknown planet, the team find themselves separated and hunted by a new enemy. BEYOND’s first hour is a breath of fresh air, a gift of everything STAR TREK can offer; a sense of adventure, exploration of new and strange worlds and encounters with unknown beings. The cast have two films worth of relationships and history behind them so regardless of any aliens or explosions, it’s satisfying just to watch Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Karl Urban (Bones) tease each other. It’s good to see more members get some time in the spotlight; John Cho (Sulu) and Simon Pegg (Scotty) get plenty of great moments, but unfortunately this means others get pushed to the side, specifically Zoe Saldana (Uhura) who is barely present.
Sofia Boutella is a welcome addition to the cast as a feisty alien who can more than fend for herself. Aided by some impressive and gorgeous makeup, Boutella carries over the charisma she showed last year in KINGSMAN. As for the villain, Idris Elba is a commanding presence, even while buried under layers of prosthetic. It’s unfortunate that his character is little more than a typical cut and paste antagonist, one of the “kill everyone and everything” variety. While a late third act twist hurries to add some depth to him, it’s little more than a rushed attempt to make a boring character interesting.
Having perfected his fast and furious directing style for four FAST AND FURIOUS films, Justin Lin is a more than worthy successor to Abrams. Framing some breathtaking shots of the Enterprise in deep space and handling the action scenes with a frantic fluidity, Lin only sometimes gets lost in a scene, with the action becoming sometimes unintelligible. However for the most part, the action is slick, with Lin gliding and weaving through impressively chaotic sequences.
So it’s a shame that what begins as an exciting, fresh adventure for the Enterprise crew slowly becomes quietly disengaging, as the plot turns into a predictable third act that sleepwalks to its conclusion. While it’s not all uninspired, a certain music choice in a vital scene appears to inject some life into the proceedings, it’s a shame to see the film squander its new found sense of adventure for a by the numbers third act. But for all its flaws, the film carries with it the bravado and charm of a summer blockbuster, allowing itself to indulge with the silliness and wonder of itself. So while STAR TREK: BEYOND might not leave a lasting mark, its success as an enjoyable summer blockbuster is enough to entertain without overstaying its welcome. Watching Captain James T. Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew is like checking in with old friends you haven’t seen for a while and realizing you actually kind of missed them.
Verdict
