“The whole infinite diversity in infinite combinations is something that’s very attractive to all of us. And it’s something that I wish the world would grasp onto as beautifully as the Star Trek fans have.”

Clare’s rating: Live Long and Giggle Uncontrollably

Clare’s review: I am not a Trekkie. I am not a Trekker or a weekend Klingon or a part-time Vulcan. I’m not even much of a Star Trek fan. However, I know MANY MANY people who have, to varying degrees, intertwined themselves with the phenomenon of adoring all things Trek. One of my friends carries with him everywhere he goes the entire first series on VHS. Other friends of mine will sit quite literally for hours debating the most minuscule of trivial Trek info while I listen in wrapped awe of their ability to remember every mother loving second of every episode.

So I’m very familiar with what it is to love Trek. I don’t share the love, but as with all things, as long as you’re not hurting anyone, more power to ya. I geek out all the time over any number of strange and wonderful pop culture things that fill me with joy. There’s no way I’d feel comfortable teasing anyone for doing the same thing directed at different stuff. Trekkies is as much a celebration of the shows’ fans as it is an objective observation of the various and sundry peculiarities associated with the rabid following they’ve attracted.

Star Trek fans are a breed apart. They are unlike any other kind of fans on the planet and their numbers are growing every year. Denise Crosby who played Tasha Yar on The Next Generation series decided to chronicle her experiences interviewing fans at conventions, various fan club meetings and other get togethers. What she uncovers are some of the most interesting, deranged, silly, hilarious, compelling, annoying and fascinating people I’ve ever seen.

The thing I really liked about Trekkies is that it’s not insulting. It’s an earnest chronicle of the lengths and depths to which Trek fans are willing to go to be a part of the show and the fan phenomenon that they love. The individual fans are presented as they want to present themselves. Sometimes their love for the show is sweet, sometimes it’s bizarre and sometimes it’s down right scary. But what it always is, from moment one until the end of the end credits is funny as hell. No less than six times I had to stop the disc in order to collect myself I was laughing so hard. This movie was like being tickled for an hour and a half. It’s a great time, but it definitely required me to take breaks every once in a while to prevent the dreaded giggly wets.

If you are a Trekkie (or a Trekker — there’s some debate in the film about which means what) or even just a passing fan of the show, I’m sure this movie will still be enjoyable. There’s interviews with a lot of the various cast members and a bunch of behind the scenes stuff that will keep you interested. Plus, even the most die hard Trek fan will find interest in seeing the huge variety of folks who share this common passion. For the rest of the world, Trekkies is a peek inside a sub-culture too amazing to ignore.

Justin’s rating: Set phasers to… you know what? I’m officially sick of that joke. Like, forever sick of it.

Justin’s review: This film is hosted by Denise Crosby, who you might remember as being a regular on Star Trek: The Next Generation for little more than seven shows. Seven. There have been transporter repair guys on that show with more screen time than she got.

Yet ever since quitting the first season of TNG (and definitely regretting it), Crosby has been desperately trying to milk every last penny out of her Trek connection because it’s obvious she doesn’t have much else. Thus, we get Trekkies. Crosby goes through this little documentary being both aloof (“These people don’t represent me”) and still feasting on the fan crumbs thrown her way (“Let me show you some erotic drawings someone did of me”). Little love in my heart is lost on her, but enough of that.

Although this is a documentary about Trek, I found myself largely preferring fan homages like the ones in Free Enterprise and Galaxy Quest. Why is that, you ask? Maybe it’s because my past Trekkie days make this sort of exposé to close for comfort. But maybe, it’s just because it’s not THAT funny. It’s more like… circus freak-show funny. The kind where you nervously titter and look around to see if anyone else is sharing your pain.

I can’t really say if Trekkies is a valid representation of Star Trek fans, or whether it’s skewed to mock them. In any case, some of the people they picked are highly questionable as actual members of humanity, but I guess that’s true of any group of fans. I think that there are millions of semi-normal Trekkies out there who don’t look like inbred mutants, who have actual lives, and who might watch this and become very upset that these few people have been chosen to represent them to the mass-video market. Too bad. That’s what you get for ordering fifty boxes of Star Trek: The Next Generation stationary (which, coincidentally, is what Kyle did).

So I didn’t laugh at all during this film. But I was relieved to know that even in the height of my Star Trek fan worship days, there were many, many people out there who made me look like a Baywatch stud. Plus, Trekkies does highlight some of the positive stories about Trek and fans (such as Scotty saving a young fan from suicide, or the NASA astronauts who were inspired by the show), so I can’t completely throw overripe tomatoes at the screen. Maybe just the little cherry ones. Those are SO fun to zing around!