‘Lost’ in space

I can pretty much sum up the new Star Trek film by referencing a fake headline for a story on the parody site “The Onion” about the movie —- “Trekkies bash new ‘Star Trek’ film as fun, watchable.”

The joke is, of course, that while Star Trek has an almost unmatched presence and influence in modern pop culture, in reality, as a concept based in science fiction, its appeal has been limited. It doesn’t help that the mainstream media continues to portray “Trekkies,” the hardcore fans of the series, as misfits that live in their mother’s basements.

As one performer in The Onion’s faux news report quipped, “Yes, it was exciting, but where was the heavy handed message about tolerance? Where was the stiff acting? It just didn’t feel like a Star Trek movie to me.”

And indeed, it doesn’t. Mostly absent from this origin story, which introduces us to the youthful versions of the characters from the first 1960s television series, is the “cheese factor.” For some, the corniness is part of the attraction. However, the tendency to take itself too seriously has often outweighed its quaintness — which may be why it has never achieved a truly “mainstream” following.

All that changes with the new film. Literally, this new “Star Trek” boldly goes where none of the films or TV series’ have gone before. It’s a smart, funny and downright — dare I say it? — cool, yes cool, re-visioning of Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future.

A Beastie Boys song pounding in the background as a young Kirk takes a joyride in a vintage Corvette, pursued through the back roads of rural Iowa by a policemen on a hoverbike? That’s just one of many pleasing surprises the film tosses out. I’d go on, but there are several spoilers in this film that deserve to be experienced without preconception.

It helps that the film’s casting is for the most part spot on. The Enterprise’s young crew is filled with faces that seem familiar to you, but not enough to overshadow the expectation the audience will have of seeing the much beloved characters they play.

Chris Pine as cocky young Starfleet recruit James T. Kirk has some big shoes to fill, but he’s certainly up for the task. Likewise is Zachary Quinto of NBC’s sci-fi series “Heroes,” who certainly looks as much a young Spock as he does act it. Perhaps the most recognizable face in the crew, comedic actor Simon Pegg, makes most of his limited screen time as Scotty, the Enterprise’s very Scottish chief engineer, as does Karl Urban, who steps up grandly to the task of portraying the sharp tongued, quick witted Leonard “Bones” McCoy, the ship’s doctor.

Star Trek isn’t without its faults, but those are relatively minor. One has to give director J.J. Abrams, co-creator of the television series “Lost,” some leeway for his attempt to foist yet another time travel plot on an unsuspecting — and sometimes uncomprehending — audience. Yet Abrams knows how to draw an audience in and hold their attention, even in those moments when the viewer has no idea what they are supposed to be seeing.

What is most definitely clear to the audience are the crisp, often mesmerizing special effects, something which of late seems to be a hit and miss proposition in sci-fi action blockbusters. There are some truly breathtaking moments, including the first view of the villains’ spacecraft.

This new “Star Trek” will for the most part please long time fans, proving that the franchise still has legs to carry it far into the “final frontier.” Paramount Pictures is likely to be pleased by the scores of new fans the franchise picks up along the way. I’m certainly looking forward to what Abrams and company cook up for the next installment.