Date: Sun, 07 Nov 1999 19:43:36 -0600
From: Paul Frietag
To: info@trekkies2.com
Subject: "Trekkies" review

Love the website, liked the movie. Here's a review I'm putting up on my site, where I'm trying to keep up with the latest cult-potentialed video releases.TREKKIES (1997)D: Roger Nygard. Denise Crosby, Walter Koenig, James Doohan, Leonard Nimoy, Grace Lee Whitney, DeForrest Kelly, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Michael Dorn, John de Lancie, LEVAR Burton, Jonathan Frakes, Majel Barrett, Buzz Aldrin, Brent Spiner, Kate Mulgrew, Ethan Phillips, Wil WheatonI grew up around science fiction conventions, attending at least two or three a year until my mid-teens, and continue to be around the edges of sci-fi fandom to this day. In this time Iove managed to come in contact with a fair number of folks like those documented in Roger Nygards Trekkies. Its an interesting piece of work, though it seems a bit unsure whether it wants to wallow in Waiting For Guffman-esque pathetic hilarity or respect these fans for their choice of idol worship. Host (and co-executive producer) Denise Crosby takes us into the bowels of a Star Trek convention, curiously omitting the idea that there are other sci-fi cons that take themselves just as seriously, showing interviews with some of the seemingly immortal Star Trek concepts more rabid fans interspersed with Trek cast members talking about their experiences. Among the film's more bizarre sights are a table of normal looking people screaming at each other in Klingon, a Trekkie in drag giving an example of filking, a Trek-themed dental facility, and a 50-year old man in full regalia announcing Its more than just a casual thing, I'm really into it, without a hint of irony as he shows the viewer his elaborate Trek Room. The highlight, however, is the interview with Barbara Adams, made famous by wearing her Federation uniform to jury duty. Its all a bit creepy, sure, but Nygard (director of the above-average Michael Rooker vehicle Back to Back) does allow the subjects to rationalize their behavior, explaining the favorable ethics the show projects. The phenomena also gets a fair comparison to sports freaks, who also wear the costumes of their heroes around but do so without ridicule. (This probably has something to do with the fact that the average sports enthusiast could beat the average Trekkie to a pulp in a second. Curiously, most sports fans are also pathetic Star Wars fans, a more socially acceptable form of geekdom.) When several subjects give conflicting ideas on the Trekkie vs. Trekker controversy, you cant help but stare slack-jawed in amazement. Several stand-out bits with the Trek cast make this must viewing. James Doohan gets near tears when talking about a young female fan that sent him a suicide note, and Crosby's reaction to finding out that a couples dressing up as Trek characters (Tasha Yar included) enhances their sex life is priceless. There's also a bit on the fairly disturbing Kirk/Spock slash fiction, and journeys to Riverside, Iowa, future birthplace of James T. Kirk. The tone of the movie is at times scatter-shot so you don't quite know if you're supposed to be laughing at these people or not. Near the end, however, when a Trekkie describes an annual party thats getting better every year. This year we had a girl come and everything, even the most accepting of fanboys would join the rest of the world in hoping these people would just get laid. While a bit overlong (it would have been an ideal hour-long documentary), Trekkies is on par with Fast, Cheap and Out of Control in the realm of fascinating portraits of human obsessiveness. (The website for Trekkies is worth a look itself, filled with info and reviews from the media, fans and participants.)

 

Paul Freitag