Trekkies 2 (2004)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Blistering performances.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I saw the first "Trekkies" movie and wasn't particularly impressed. I assumed the film would talk about how strange some of the Star Trek fans were but was surprised with the film's theme that these are normal folks--which some clearly were NOT! I had no intention of seeing this sequel film, but after watching William Shatner's new documentary "Get a Life" on Netflix, the next film recommended to me was "Trekkies 2" and I thought I'd give it a try. And, interestingly, the theme of "Trekkies 2" IS, at times, what I thought the first film should be--as it not only shows a WIDE variety of fandom (especially fans throughout the world) but also actually asked 'how much is too much?'. I appreciated this discussion about what the difference is between healthy and unhealthy obsession (such as the lady who dressed up in a Star Trek uniform for jury duty). They ask 'what is a NORMAL fan'--and I appreciated that. The film also bounces around the world and visits with fans and conventions on several continents.Now this is not to say I was in love with "Trekkies 2"--it had a few problems. The film was VERY episodic and bounced around too much. Had it stuck with one or two themes, the film would have been tighter and more meaningful. Often, the film looked like a lot of fans just talking and talking without unifying narration or an overall plan. It could have also used some editing. It also would have benefited from EITHER exploring the psyche of the fans OR discussing the fandom around the world and doing both (plus several other themes) was just taking on too much. As a result, the final product looks more like a fan film and less like a documentary to interest the average viewer. Because of these factors, I MUCH prefer "Get a Life"--it was more compact and focused and recommend you see this one.

For those who could not get enough of TREKKIES, here comes TREKKIES 2. Denise Crosby travels the globe to speak to Trekkies, who insist on being called Trekkers, which makes them sound even more loony than they already are. One Trekkie makes it very plain that Trekkies are a disenfranchised lot as a whole. Actually, this sequel is pretty dull and has nothing on the first film, which makes me wonder why anyone bothered with a sequel. Trying to find something I could enjoy about this documentary, I focused on one older woman with a butch haircut and no makeup who wears a Star Trek jersey everywhere she goes, and vociferously defends her right to do so. Her, I could get into. She reminded me that many years ago, my wife and I ran into a Trekkie on a bus ride to Florida, and this was pretty much before people started labeling themselves Trekkies. She had horrible body odor and halitosis, and suckered me out of the cost of a meal at one stop. She said she was headed for one of the first Star Trek conventions somewhere. Hey! Maybe this little old lady in the movie is the same gal we ran into four decades ago. If so, she still owes me for that meal. Skip this puppy. As one guy states in TREKKIES 2, STAR WARS has a lot more going for it than STAR TREK ever did. Amen, brother. Even though I used to love STAR TREK (at least the Captain Kirk version).

I believe Trekkies 2 is defiantly worth watching if you enjoyed the first Trekkies film. Some of the Trekkies interviewed in the first Trekkies film appear in Trekkies 2 so it is interesting to see how they have grown and how they have continued using Star Trek as part of their lives. But what I think is most interesting is seeing Star Trek fans and conventions in other countries. The first Trekkies film only had American fans, but Trekkies 2 takes you to Star Trek fans and conventions in France, England, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Serbia and of course my country: Australia.I've attended three Star Trek Conventions in Sydney so far. Including the one in June of 2003. Denise Crosby was a guest at this convention, she was here in Sydney to film Trekkies 2, I even briefly chatted with one of Denise's cameramen. Some of the Trekkies attending this convention were interviewed for Trekkies 2 but I wasn't one of them. I've met several of the Australian people interviewed for this documentary. One of them is Peter the host for the Sydney Star Trek Conventions. He claims that he's been attending conventions for twelve years. I also know Tammy who you see briefly dressed as a Romulan. I've also seen the huge teddy bear which is dressed in a Starfleet uniform. I've also met this "Admiral". I've forgotten her name but she is wearing a red Admiral's uniform and has these two white tentacles on her head. She calls herself a Human/Andorian (She appears during the end credits). So it was nice to see some of the people I've met in this documentary and I am surprised that I'm the first Star Trek Convention attendee who has commented about this film.

I was very fortunate to catch an early viewing of this film at Fanzillacon in Worcester Massachusetts and was very happy to get the opportunity. Trekkies 2, though a documentary, uses has all the keys to any good sequel: The film stands well without seeing the previous, though rewarding if you have, old elements are revisited without overshadowing new ones and everything is made bigger and bolder. The movie itself is a sort of reply to the first, addressing the effect that Trekkies had on many of its interviewees and the fanbase as a whole. The documentary strives for a fair balance of 'normal' fans with the amusing 'over-the-top' fans that were plentiful in the first film. I think this balance is achieved, though not everyone will agree for whatever reasons they might. Aside from being the obvious way of expanding the first movie, seeing Trekkies from around the globe was just a fascinating addition.The major difference between this movie and the first is this one is more is concentrated solely on the lives and activities of the fans and does not include much discussion and history on the Star Trek phenomena on its own. Which makes prefect sense since that subject was covered well enough in the first, making this more what the first would have been if that background information hadn't been necessary.My only problem was no inclusion of major Star Trek cast members like the previous film had. But director Roger Nygard answered a Q&A after the screening and explained that getting them was simple for the first film when the filmmakers had no limelight on their production and didn't have to pay the cast members for their interviews.Altogether the film is a strong followup to the first. I look forward to seeing it again, along with the supplementary material, when it is released in August.