When Star Trek was funny. 

I have written about how Star Trek crossed into the environmentally friendly. That environmental theme was in Star Trek IV The Voyage Home (1986, USA).

It was an appropriate theme for the Star Trek series, which looked at life idealistically. The message was to look after the environment, particularly whales, before it’s too late.

Star Trek IV was also funny. So funny that it was inspirational comedy. Inspirational in the traditional sense, as well.

The straight science fiction that opens the film changes mid-way through when Captain Kirk’s crew from the 23rd century go back to the 1980’s.

The strings of music immediately change over to something more upbeat. Now, Captain Kirk and his team are right out of their depth. Here is the basis for comedy and we the audience are cued to sit back, relax and have fun. This is Star Trek where no man has gone before.

Kirk and team know nothing about the 20th century–particularly the 1980’s– and they aren’t wearing that decade’s fashion design. They are wearing their Federation suits. (Though some may say that is 80’s fashion or ‘rad’.)

Moments

The outlook for Kirk and his friends looks to be ill-conceived, but Star Trek IV does not focus on this potential situation comedy. This Star Trek’s comedy instead focuses on moments.

There is also a running gag about Vulcan Spock coming from the 1960’s as he appears in pseudo hippy garb. The clothes are white robes because he has to look somewhat the part, but does not have a wardrobe full of 80’s items.

One moment I remember well is when Kirk and Spock are on a bus with a load of people and there is an annoying guy playing loud music defiantly from his ghetto blaster.

Kirk and Spock swap a few thoughts about life in the 2oth century, which are  perfectly timed for comic effect, before Vulcan Spock gets up and immobilizes the man and his music, by using ‘tricks of the trade’ that only Vulcans know. It causes immediate applause. Life from elsewhere comes in handy in another place.

The benefits of time travel are seen again when Engineer Scotty lets out the tricks of the trade from the 23rd century. This should prove rewarding for someone in the 1980’s. And materials from the 20th century should also be of use to the world in the 23rd century. That is when life pays back itself.