I was recently re-watching the movie “Galaxy Quest” and mentioned to my GF how good it was. She has only seen bits and pieces and was dubious about its excellence.
Which got me thinking…
I think “Galaxy Quest” is a very good movie. I enjoy it a lot. But is it a great movie? Oscar worthy? (or name your award) Probably not that good. It is fun and really well done but it’s not a movie that bowls you over either.
So, what movies would you nominate as, “really good but not award worthy or life changing?” The movie you don’t think to look for but when you come across it while channel surfing you stop to watch it?
For me, gotta be Airplane 2. Not directed or written by the Zukers of Abrams. Mosf of the originl cast yet And happily does not include Leslie Nielsen who went on to the long running series "Police Squad!!
Yet it’s got most of the original jokes and gags and William Shatner.
Galaxy Quest is an interrogation of the merits of obsessive fandom, a meditation on the ephemeralness and hollowness of celebrity, the angst of being typecast into a beloved but career-limiting role, a pointed satire of the tropes of science fiction, and also the best Star Trek film that was transparently copied by the J.J. Abrams first Star Trek film. (Tell me this scene with the rotary cheese grater wasn’t pulled from rejected pages from the Galaxy Quest script.)
It is no accident that it has such a stellar cast actors in supporting characters, and is the only film where you’ll find Tim Allen actually emoting. In a just world, this film and its cast would have a shelf of awards. Instead, it has a Hugo, a Saturn (to Tim Allen, of all people) and a few minor film festival awards.
I watch Twister a couple of times a year, usually when I happen on it by accident. I’ve tried to figure out why I like it so much, but I really can’t say.
Zombieland is a solid, fun watch. It helps that the film clocks in at a tight (these days) 90min so it doesn’t outstay its gimmick or suffer from excessive downtime.
If you like Paddington, then Peter Rabbit fits the OPs bill. Unless you hate James Corden, which admittedly a lot of people do.
If you like animated movies about anthropomorphised animals, then Sing is a lot better than it ought to be. Also Secret Life Of Pets.
A lot of Disney live-action remakes are a bit witheringly unnecessary, but nonetheless Mulan, The Jungle Book, Aladdin, and even Lady and the Tramp are all pretty good.
A couple of lesser known films that I didn’t see many people talking about when they came out: The Aeronauts, Shadow In The Cloud, The Lost City, Jerry and Marge Go Large, and Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar.
I’d strongly argue against that. Paddington managed to modernize the stories but still retain the charm and humor of the books. Peter Rabbit throw out everything that made Beatrix Potter books charming and great, and made a totally generic modern kids cartoon
