‘William Shatner’s Get a Life!’ looks at a fan base that lives long and prospers

For anyone too shy or embarrassed to attend a Star Trek convention, William Shatner’s new documentary Get a Life! will be a wonderfully vicarious experience. The 60-minute film, airing exclusively on Epix, is more thoughtful than Shatner’s last Trek documentary The Captains and features some one-of-a-kind stories about the people who turn out year after year to celebrate Gene Roddenberry’s creation.

The main focus of the film is Creation Entertainment’s annual Trek bash in Las Vegas, an event that draws thousands of fans for autographs, photo ops and Trek-filled fun. Creation’s co-founders, Adam Malin and Gary Berman, even serve as producers on the documentary.

The inside access let’s us go beyond the stereotypes and truly get to know some of the faces in the crowd. There’s one man — nicknamed Mr. Data — who makes the Trek conventions a family affair. His impressive Borg outfit takes first place at the costume parade, and he has no problem walking around the convention looking like Brent Spiner’s brother.

Another story involves Captain Dave, a common presence at Trek conventions who was also featured in The Captains. It’s no wonder Captain Kirk was so enamored by Captain Dave. The ultimate fan is an inspiring story of overcoming the odds, a person whose paralysis never stopped him from heading across the country to celebrate Star Trek. If nothing else, Get a Life! serves as a fitting memorial to a life that ended too soon.

Behind the geekdom are real people with real stories. Sure they’re a little fanatical for Roddenberry’s dream, but they have found something in life they cherish. Who are we to deny their happiness? Plus, deep down, aren’t we all fans of Star Trek? These convention-goers play out the dreams of so many people, and they offer a welcoming hand for more people to embrace the many incarnations of Trek.

Of course, with only 60 minutes to prove its thesis, the documentary falls short of answering all the questions. Shatner takes a sidestep from the fan hoopla and tries to set the enthusiasm in an historical and theoretical context. The academia that’s added by this approach is appreciated, but it takes away from the fans and their love for Trek.

One of the key puzzle pieces that’s missing is the economic factor. Star Trek actors don’t show up at the conventions solely out of the kindness of their heart. Similarly, fans can’t enjoy these gatherings without plunking down hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. One quick scene about a Creation Entertainment auction alludes to the costliness, but there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Sometimes an autograph with a captain can cost nearly $100.

Still, within these packed 60 minutes, Shatner is able to get closer than any other director to the heart of the Trek fan base. Trekkies, a similar documentary from several years ago, was fun but somewhat cursory. The Captains was more about the actors and Shatner’s revelations. Get a Life!, despite its unfortunate title, achieves a genuine understanding of this cultural movement and its 45-year history. Shatner, more than others, gets to know the fans and treats them like Captain Kirk would, with a great deal of respect.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• William Shatner’s Get a Life!

• 2012

• Directed by William Shatner

• Featuring Shatner, John Cho, Rene Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, Nichelle Nichols and Nana Visitor

• Rating: