Review: Trekkies 2


Lots of people thought the characters in the original “Trekkies” did not fully represent real “Trekkies” or “Trekkers” (something I partially agree with, though I’m in neither category, I simply like some of the movies and love sci-fi and fantasy), and that it was a shamefully condescending display of the most bizarre and unpleasant of die-hard “Star Trek” fans. This 2004 Roger Nygard (the original doco “Trekkies”) follow-up firstly aims to make up for the earlier doco’s apparent narrow-mindedness, but also offers up a wider display of Trek fandom by giving us a look at fans from around the globe (except, rather curiously, Asia). Unfortunately, not only did I absolutely love “Trekkies” (condescending or not, it wasn’t a lie. Those people were real, whether they represented a small minority or not. They were also really entertaining), I found that half of this film was unnecessary (i.e. The rectifying of earlier ‘mistakes’) and the other half was just more of the same, only less entertaining this time (As for the title song by B-52s front man Fred Schneider, well, it’s unbearable, given how much I frigging hate the B-52s. They’re the Ed Wood of pop music, and sadly, a bad song isn’t as enjoyable as a bad movie!).


Seeing French, German, and yes, Australian Trekkies/Trekkers might’ve been fun had the earlier film not existed, but it does, and there’s little you haven’t seen here before (oh wow, another guy who collects action figures and has modelled the interior of his home to look like a Star Trek set. Never seen that before…) Dare I suggest that the needs of the many (i.e. Movie fans) outweigh the needs of the few (disgruntled Trekkies/Trekkers)?


That’s not to say that this film is a waste of time. Not only do some of these International segments work (The film is worth seeing for the Trek heavy metal band alone), but I was also genuinely interested in seeing how some of the “Trekkies” subjects have changed since 1997. For instance, the likeably anal-retentive 15 year old computer graphics whiz Gabriel Koerner is back, now in his twenties and married (to a real-life girl!), and even having the privilege of working on the “Enterprise” TV show! (He’s also just about the only returning subject who has a positive attitude about his semi-celebrity status. He’s a dork, but he’s a loveable one) Even the infamous Barbara Adams is back, still wearing her Trek uniform to work. Check out the look on her face when her conspiracy theorist pal starts going on about real-life UFO’s, it’s bloody priceless. I guess even nerds can feel superior to others (and not just in the scholastic or intellectual sense).


But at the end of the day, this should’ve been an extra feature on a Deluxe Edition DVD of “Trekkies” not a film in its own right. And seriously guys, shut the hell up about the whole Trekkies/Trekkers debate. You’re all geeks. And so am I. Deal with it. And live long and prosper…


Rating: C+

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