The first trailer for “Star Trek Beyond” grossly misrepresented the film. It made it look like an installment in the “Fast & Furious” franchise, not “Star Trek.” This was made sensible thanks to the inclusion of Justin Lin, a mainstay in the former franchise, as the new director for the latter. This caused great uproar amongst the Trekkies (and rightfully so), who worried that their beloved series would more closely resemble a summer blockbuster of a different variety than the one they cherish.
Fear not, hardcore fans, as “Star Trek Beyond” is most definitely a “Star Trek” film. It feels like one, with the focus being more on the characters than the action set pieces. Lin’s directorial trademarks, such as a kinetic pace during the action sequences, are at hand. However, they’re more complementary to the action in question. Take for instance the ambush of the USS Enterprise. Swarms of ships storm in fast and furiously like the cars in Lin’s most notable franchise (and pardon the terribly cheesy pun; it was honestly the best way to describes the ships’ movements). It feels at home here, though, as it represents the urgency of the situation.
That ambush is a spectacle worthy of a summer blockbuster! It includes gunplay (or, in this case, laser beamplay) and explosions typical of the genre, but made to feel dangerous. The crew of the USS Enterprise bounce around like pinballs. They rush around the ship frantically trying to get to safety, while Sulu (John Cho) tries to properly navigate the ship to safety. Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) tries his best to remain calm and direct traffic, made all the more difficult by a personal crisis of self-worth he had prior to takeoff. It’s all shot and framed chaotically, but not to dizzying effect. Much like the way Lin handles the car chases in “Fast & Furious,” he imbues a sense of immediacy into the fracas whilst still making it digestible. This isn’t near unwatchable shaky cam that is meant to put the viewer in the action, but instead gives them motion sickness.
The only time that frantic style gets in the way is surprisingly in the more intimate moments. Simple shots such as the crew arriving in a busy airport are edited in quick fashion. Characters enter into frame via the camera whizzing by them. It’s not too noticeable, but I could sense the film moving a notch faster than normal speed. It’s mainly only present in the first half of the film, possibly a deliberate way of symbolizing the uneasiness of the crew. It more resembles a mistake in the editing room, but I’m keeping the options open. Either way, it’s a bit too distracting and nauseating at times, and thankfully it goes away shortly after the crew is shipwrecked on a desolate planet.
Said desolate planet belongs to Krall (Idris Elba), an alien warlord after an artifact in Captain Kirk’s possession. This artifact naturally is a weapon that can end civilization in Yorktown as we know it. He smuggles a henchman, Kalara (Lydia Wilson), onto the Enterprise to let both Captain Kirk and the ship’s guard down, making them vulnerable for attack. The ship crash lands onto the aforementioned desolate planet, with the crew being separated thanks to their escape pods careening down into separate locations. From here, it’s a race to find one another and the deadly artifact before Krall wipes out humanity.
The plot itself is standard order fare, the kind find in classic episodes of “Star Trek.” The villain and his familiar plan exist solely to give the crew something to work off of. This is welcomed as it opens the door for the heart of the series: the comradery of the crew. The “Star Trek” franchise has always been about the characters, with the action and sci-fi elements servicing as pillars in which to raise the melodrama on. This has been lost in certain installments, with fans fearing it to be the case this time around.
Such is not the case and we discover why Justin Lin was hired on to replace J.J. Abrams. Whatever one thinks of the “Fast & Furious” franchise (I myself find them to be mindlessly enjoyable) there’s no denying Lin’s touch of comradery. That is on full display here, with all of the action being predicated on the emotions of the crew. Kalara infiltrating the USS Enterprise is beneficial in order for the plot to move on, but feels natural in execution. We buy into Kirk’s weary belief of her and her betrayal feeds into his feelings of inadequacy. This gives him more drive to succeed, showing him he was born to be a captain, not Vice Admiral.
Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) have split, but this is refreshingly approached in a civil way. The two never shout at one another, but instead engage in quiet quarrels. Reeling from the death of Spock Prime, he questions his motivations, now wanting to keep the Vulcan legacy alive by repopulating Yorktown with more of them. This is impossible to do with Uhura, which understandably upsets her. Spock’s high-minded thinking overcomes his sensitivity, causing friction but understanding. It’s Doctor ‘Bones’ McCoy (Karl Urban) who talks sense into him.
Karl Urban has the unenviable task of portraying McCoy, who on paper acts as comic relief. Thankfully, the script (credited to Simon Pegg & Doug Jung) approaches his bluntness not just as comedic foil, but in companionship. Not only does he console Spock and build him back up, he does so too with Captain Kirk. These moments are the heart of the film and go a long way in capturing the spirit of the series. Don’t get me wrong, he is used as a crutch for comedy, but it’s drawn organically from his personality. One amusing sequence has him hectically trying to explain to Spock the severity of his injury, while another has him unwittingly piloting a ship into battle.
Other characters get dutiful screen time, as well. Scotty (Simon Pegg) befriends Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), a scavenger residing in the remains of the USS Franklin. Krall killed her family (naturally) and she’s hesitant in aiding the Starfleet crew, but Scotty plays to her sensibilities wisely. She is the reasoning for the rock music on the soundtrack, most notably the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage.” Trust me, it works within the context of the film (and garners a cheeky laugh when it’s referred to as classical music). Sulu flies the ship(s) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin) acts like a Looney Tunes character.
I am not a Trekkie, but I suspect this entry into the series will satisfy those that are. It did for the ones in my screening, with the callbacks to the classic series garnering cheers. It’s a return to form of the simplicity of the franchise, which is welcomed due to its aiding in developing the characters, not the action. Krall may be a one-dimensional villain, but he’s played with terrific menace by Idris Elba (shades of his portrayal of Shere Khan in “The Jungle Book”). He’s a catalyst for the heroes and a damn fine one at that!
“Star Trek Beyond” is a love letter for the fans and enjoyable pulp for casuals!
Final Rating: B