Coming into the movie theater, my wife said, “I’ll only like it if there’s a tribble in it.” She liked it. I guessed the key plot element when I saw the cute, furry ball. I liked it less.
“Into Darkness,” the new Star Trek movie directed by J. J. Abrams, is recycled, but plays well, at least some of the time, with the teenager in all of us. With the whole universe to toy with, literally, Abrams can only give us a rehashed, refried-bean sort of plot, or is it tri-fried? As in “Super 8,” Abrams gives us bits and pieces of other movies, or in this case, mostly Star Trek movies and TV shows.
The opening sequence, a high-action chase scene, whether derivative or an inside joke, is eerily reminiscent of Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), in which Indiana Jones is chased by South American Indians. While an obviously expensive scene to film, the aboriginals’ faces here look like five and dime store paper mache masks.
With its recycled plot, “Into Darkness” is still exciting but not awe inspiring. If I could speak with J. J. Abrams, I would tell him he needs to show us the wonder of the universe as well as the foibles of its inhabitants. If Star Trek doesn’t boldly go where no one has gone before, it’s a dud.
With the villain’s superhuman strength and brains, you would think he would be a more complex character, one with a depth of feeling and understanding, yet he is little more than a shadow puppet. A couple of times it appears our déjà vu villain is about to become interesting, but the director always reels him in.
In this attempt, Kirk is the arrogant young man who knows it all; Spock is the monotone hybrid Pinocchio, while Bones is the man of feeling. Uhura is emotive and sexy, so why does she like Spock? Scotty is bland, while Sulu grows a pair when necessary, but the other characters are mostly cardboard cutouts. If their names weren’t called out when they appear, you wouldn’t know who they are.
There is a great movie in there somewhere, but it doesn’t get a chance to develop. If Abrams is going to direct another Star Trek movie, he needs to speak with, and I say this in all humility, someone like me. Star Trek movies need excitement and humor, but they also need awe, irony and blowback.
That is not to say the movie is bad. In fact it’s quite good and highly exciting at points, with great sets and decent 3D effects. Yet, it disappoints. Abrams appears to still be writing for 13 year olds, like in “Super 8,” but some of us have grown up. We want a little wonder with our popcorn and soda.
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