Review: Star Trek

J.J. Abrams’ watchable, unremarkable reboot of the classic geek series deserves some commendation for not being an entirely disposable piece of trash like Bryan Singer’s repugnant retread of “Superman,” but one wishes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman’s script would spend more time developing the complexities of James T. Kirk and Spock than forcing in cutesy references to the series that distract from the suspense, the “Dammit, I’m a doctor!” from Bones and the “I’m giving her all she’s got, Captain!” from Scotty. The plot tracks the origins of the friendships between and careers of Kirk and Spock, now played by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, respectively, and their first meetings with Bones (Karl Urban), Sulu (John Cho), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). Initially fighting his destiny as captain of the USS Enterprise, Kirk eventually gives in on a dare and enlists, quickly finding himself in a complicated adventure that involves the imploding of the Vulcan planet with a black hole, Earth being threatened with the same fate, some time travel, a few daddy issues, several orders of “Prepare the drill” from Eric Bana’s boring villain Nero, two different Spocks, the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” often disorienting but occasionally thrilling sci-fi effects, alternate realities, lines like “Are you out of your Vulcan mind?” and the sorta humorous reveal that Winona Ryder is Spock’s human mother. The main issue is Pine’s casting—he lacks Shatner’s oddball charisma and comes off here more like a cocky, meathead frat brother with bad hair; he’s introduced drunk at a tavern hitting on beautiful girls while bartenders sling Budweiser “classics,” and his goofy grin as he’s shoved into a woman’s breasts offers a nauseating scare early on. (Quinto nails it as Spock, however, which was most likely the film’s biggest gamble.) But Abrams’ film progresses giddily, drunk on its own lunacy, and that has its own charms. Plus, Spock’s love story subplot is sweet. 126m. (Tom Lynch)