To frame the discussion, let me share an anecdote. Years ago, I went to a meeting at DreamWorks. The exec I met with was terribly excited. Turns out they had received a draft of a script they had been developing and it turned out fantastic, everybody loved it. He went on and on about how good it was, how the writer had nailed it. That script was Galaxy Quest. When you read the script, you can see why the exec was excited. -- Strong high concept: This made marketing the movie so much easier. -- Nicely detailed characters who all work together as an ensemble: This enabled the studio to go after multiple different actors with a dream cast [one they eventually got]. -- It's funny: Lots of great moments, scenes, set-ups and payoffs. -- It's clever: All the way through, from concept to execution, there is an extra sheen to the story that elevates it from the broad comedy terrain. The movie did very well more than doubling its production budget and I'm sure succeeded in the ancillary markets as well. I know many professional screenwriters who really admire the script because it is so well-written. And here's a point I want to make: This is the kind of movie screenwriters need to be able to write. Mainstream, commercial, popcorn films. If you want to be Tony Gilroy and that is your everlasting passion, God be with you, and go for it. But most of the movies Hollywood studios make are much more like Galaxy Quest than Michael Clayton. So if you aspire to write mainstream commercial Hollywood comedies, you should read and analyze scripts like GQ because within its genre, it's a quality story.

Ok, just finished watching it. I was trying to follow along with the script at the same time, but gave up about 2/3 of the way through because there were numerous changes, particularly in the dialogue and the action was moving fast by that point. I don't know if I actually ever watched the entire movie before or not - I don't think I did, though I have an awareness of it and some of the characters. What struck me was the farce I just wrote has a similar set-up structurally (from role-playing to actually being), which makes me feel like I'm on the right track with it considering how this one turned out. I would agree - the concept is pretty high and the fact that it's taking on a particular beloved Sci-Fi show/movies adds to the whole of it. Had this been about something else, I don't think the mass appeal would have been there. As such, it was able to use character stereotypes for the show and bounce the "real life" versions of the "actors" playing them against type to a degree. This created all sorts of contrast and amusing bits and allowed the characters in the movie to become (or should I say grow as a result - particularly Alexander. It was funny noticing some of the spot actors like Rainne Wilson - who I keep calling Dwight - instantly recognizable in a minor role. I think where the story shined the most was in the first third. While it remained consistently entertaining throughout, the beginning gave us the clash of this world - this world being Earth and the life of the fanatics and broken-in-a-slump cast - with the arrival of the real aliens who come across as just another gaggle of die-hards. That's all followed by the revelation and Jason trying to get the rest of his "crew" to realize what's really going on - but once everyones aboard the ship, we lose a bit of that contrast. Sure, the fact that the aliens believe the show is real is great - but by the time we're thrown into the cast seemingly reliving plot points of old episodes, I felt a bit disconnected because we as an audience obviously have no connection to them. That's a small gripe in the thick of things, though. Overall, I found it to be a well written send-up that, although probably more appealing to the sci-fi community for obvious reasons, has the appeal to reach across that particular target audience which I'm sure was the goal all along.

I'm hoping that I'll put in more of an intelligent response later because all I can do now is chuckle. I love this film. As a Sci Fi geek, I've seen it at least 4 times. I think the Galaxy Quest crew of characters and the actors who play them, make this film what it is. They are all so clearly "real people" with strong traits and huge weaknesses - that make them more well rounded. And the actors are sending up geekdom but also themselves. Can Gwen be any more different that Ripley? And Alan Rickman as a tortured Shakespearean actor forced to play a B-grade sci-fi alien? How droll. And in terms of script-appeal you also bring in an older demographic of fans because of those two actors. My favorite line, amongst many, as spoken by Gwen: "Let's get out of here before one of those things kills Guy." The set up for this joke over the previous few scenes is beautiful.

I love this movie, it appeals to the geek in me (having been raised on Dr Who/Star Trek/Space 1999). Throughout the pages you see where little golden eggs of set up and scattered which I hadn't noticed on earlier viewings of the movie. The character arcs all change during the movie, especially noted when Jason becomes less self focused and more like the character he's portraying. I love Guy the most though, he says out loud what I think every time I see a scifi flick/tv show, the character who doesn't have a full name is going to die any second now. And it doesn't hurt that Sam Rockwell nails his performance. I can see why the deviated from the original script especially with introducing Laliari/Fred's love match. Instead of getting a green coloured woman he ends up with the many limbed Laliari. Love it.

I went through a couple of stages with this. I hadn't seen this movie before - and I possibly wouldn't have watched it anytime soon. I thought that I would not enjoy this type of comedy. After quickly reading through the script I thought it had some exciting scenes, but others felt flat and superfluous. But when I saw it connected with the actual cast it started to make much more sense. And it became really enjoyable. The cast is perfect and I'm guessing that the actors had a wonderful time. I still wouldn't put it up with my favorites of all time. Yet. So I'm looking forward to more re-reading and re-watching. (This script analysis series is fantastic, btw)

I'm a scifi fan and really enjoyed this movie. As a general comment, it seems to me that this script differs from most others I've read in one respect. For most others, I would say that the story works (or doesn't) independent of the actors involved. There is an externalness (a word I just made up) about them. This script is different to me. I cannot separate the lines from the actors so easily: as I read a scene I often think "that was funny but would really bomb if the actors don't have great comic skill." It seems almost obvious now that this script was written by a guy experience in stage plays. He really knows his actors, and the comic skills they can deliver.