#2: Galaxy Quest — dir. Dean Parisot
David Mamet once called this the most perfectly constructed film. And who the hell am I to argue with David Mamet? Who I didn’t even put on this list?
As I’ve said before, with things like Black Dynamite or Blazing Saddles, a perfect spoof film is a great film in and of itself. One that clearly loves the material it’s lampooning. And that’s the case with Galaxy Quest. While it’s making fun of Star Trek, and fan conventions and all of that, there’s actually a genuine story going on. The performances are hilarious. The cast is kind of amazing when you really think about it — Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shaloub, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Justin Long, Missi Pyle, Enrico Colantoni, and on and on.
It’s something I can watch over and over. It used to be my #1 for a while, but I’m sure this is going to take that Time Bandits slide over time. Which I’m totally okay with. Especially since I learned that my dreams of an R-rated version are just pipe dreams. There’s no down and dirty swear filled script out there. They terribly dubbed an F-bomb, the single F-bomb to get their PG rating. Them’s the story.
It’s one of those films you can quote and you think you’re quoting something else. It’s not as quotable as my last few, that’s for sure, but still, again, it’s just that it is such a solidly put together film. It’s so well constructed. All the ridiculous stuff that happens is perfectly motivated. The world building is outstanding. And I have to respect that. At least in this incarnation of the list.
Six Demon Messenger Bag 