‘Star Trek’ Goes Boldly

“I dare you to do better.”

When a young, pre-captain James Kirk hears this plea from a decorated Starfleet officer in the new J.J. Abrams revamp of Star Trek, something triggers, prompting him to give up a soulless existence and step into his destiny.

Moviegoers already familiar with the mythology of the legendary captain have the vantage point of knowing what his incredible journey will entail. Yet seeing that choice played out on screen—even for a younger generation unfamiliar with Captain Kirk—is truly captivating.

The entire film is stunning—from start to finish. I say this with full disclosure of having never owned a pair of Vulcan ears and being the pathetic imitator of the Vulcan hand greeting. I have seen all the original films and I can say with complete honesty the new film is far superior (hate mail with Klingon cuss words soon coming, I’m sure).

Star Trek succeeds in all areas. It’s filled with action throughout, features a visual showcase of effects and displays top-notch acting talents that pay tribute to characters but rise above being mere imitations. Karl Urban as “Bones” McCoy, Zachary Quinto as Spock and Simon Pegg are three that come to mind; but truthfully, there wasn’t, surprisingly, a weak link in the bunch. It was a little shock to the system to see Tyler Perry appear, but thankfully he wasn’t onscreen long enough to conjure up any Madea memories.

The only thing Star Trek might have to fear is Star Trek itself—as in the franchise (memories of the previous films and TV series) and the loyalty of legions of fans. If a viewer can resist the intimidation of stepping into a world with such devoted followers, they’ll realize there’s room in that universe for everyone. A rebooted film, freed from the trappings of Tribbles, is a perfect spot to land on.

Beyond its polished look, the movie’s central themes of destiny, purpose and friendship could carry larger questions for anyone struggling with their own journey. Can a person rise above his own self-imposed or projected limitations? Can he overcome bitterness long enough to engage the bigger picture?

All in all, Star Trek is entertaining, fun and a pitch-perfect action movie.

Catch DeWayne’s blogs and other reviews at dewaynehamby.com.

Content watch: Star Trek is rated PG-13 for “sci-fi action and violence and brief sexual content.” It also features some profanity that might be found on broadcast television and plays up Kirk’s womanizing side with a brief bedroom scene (shown in the television previews) and innuendo throughout.