STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991)

Excluding a small B pic (literally a B pic, INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS/’73), writer Nicholas Meyer started his film career at the top with THE SEVEN-PER-CENT SOLUTION/’76, from his own bestseller*; then never quite lived up to expectations when he turned writer/director, starting with his next project, TIME AFTER TIME/’79.  Yet he holds a special distinction in having ‘saved’ one movie franchise.  Twice!*  First, by getting the original STAR TREK cast back on their feet with THE WRATH OF KHAN/’82; then giving them a proper send-off four films later, a final entry that returned dignity, social conscience, thrills fit for a senior citizen cast, good humor and even autographs for sentimental collectors.  A film to please Trekkers, non-Trekkers and the recently departed Gene Roddenberry.  William Shatner’s Captain Kirk is taking the whole aged crew on a final mission before he retires, escorting untrustworthy Klingons to a Peace Conference when he’s blamed for a Chancellor’s assassination.  Naturally, it’s a setup, cleverly handled by Meyer to give each player at least one star turn.  None more so than Shatner himself, as usual looking like a war vet off to a reunion in pants that no longer fit.  But Meyer makes up for the costume deigns by giving him the funniest bit of his entire run as Kirk in a double act with himself that exploits the love/hate relationship we all feel for the old ham.  A very satisfying film.  Thank goodness they didn’t push their luck with an encore.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK:  *Not only a Meyer best, SEVEN-PER-CENT also a best for producer/director Herbert Ross.  And less known than it should be.  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-seven-per-cent-solution-1976.html

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID:  *’Saving’ the franchise explained.  All the STAR TREK films financially successful to reasonable levels.  Yes, even the infamous Shatner directed #5.  What’s more STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION was up and running by 1987, four years before this original cast finale.  But those are mere facts.  It was the franchise’s soggy reputation Meyer saved, refreshing the brand in Numbers 2 and 6.