Star Trek: Insurrection Review

by "Brian Koller" (kollers AT shell DOT mpsi DOT net)
December 14th, 1998
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

Grade: 28

The ninth in an apparently endless series of films based upon the television series "Star Trek", this is also the third film to use the "Next Generation" cast. "Insurrection" gives us the answer to the question, what would happen if a one-hour show is stretched to a two-hour film? While the cinematography is better and the budget is bigger, it seems that we have been down this road before, and too many times. Special effects, techno-babble, and makeup that looks like uncomfortable rubber scarecrows take the place of plot, dialogue and character development.

Midway through "Insurrection", there are attempts to add some warmth to the formulaic sci-fi fantasy action plot. Fearless captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) gets a platonic love interest with uninteresting Donna Murphy, while the android Data (Brent Spiner) is taught how to play by an uninteresting pre-adolescent.

Romance is rekindled between director/second banana Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and consellor Troi (Marina Sirtis), both of whom are unbearably smug as a result. There's also some kind of moral about the evils of technology, and that it is wrong to steal planets from people.

Then, it is back to the fantasy action adventure, with Picard and his heroic crew rescuing the gentle, peace-abiding villagers from the ugly mutants attempting to dislocate them. The plot is reconciled in wholly predictable fashion, with nothing being done to prevent Star Trek X from appearing in theatres two years hence.

Since the formula has run aground, I have a suggestion for Frakes and Rick Berman. Why not make "Star Trek X" a musical? Picard can perform "MacArthur Park". Frakes can sing "You're So Vain". LaForge would sing "I Can See Clearly Now". Data will perform "Hooked on a Feeling". Troi can warble "Torn Between Two Lovers" while Whorf tackles "In the Year 2525". Sure, Trekkie fans would feel alien-ated, but perhaps it would be a cult film classic, like "Rocky Horror Picture Show".

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