William Shatner's Get a Life!

William Shatner presents this affectionate personal portrait of hardcore groupies at Star Trek conventions, where he continues to ask the deep philosophical question of why the Star Trek universe has such a hold on fans, especially the nerdy ones engaging in cosplay and hero worship who he once suggested should “get a life” in an old Saturday Night Live sketch. But this question has been asked and answered many times before; in fact, the original Captain Kirk has already done it himself in his previous home-movie-type docs like The Captains (VL-1/12). Here, Shatner focuses strictly on the conventions where the devoted masses reach into their hearts to explain why Star Trek rules their lives. Director Shatner stays behind the camera, lobbing questions at adoring attendees in massive hotel ballrooms, and also listens to experts talking about the power of myth, marveling at the connection to Joseph Campbell's writings and enduring anthropological legacies, etc.—pretty much like every other Star Trek doc in past decades has done. Originally produced for the EPIX channel, this slapdash documentary inspired by Shatner's 1999 book Get a Life! is ultimately of niche interest to zealous Trekkies. Extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Optional, at best. Aud: P. (T. Fry)