Star Trek Beyond opens with a sense of ennui. Even the enthusiastic Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) feels tired and bored of his life in space. In a voiceover, he notes that it’s his 966th day in deep space and “things have started to feel a little episodic.”
Fortunately though, this latest “episode” of the film franchise stands out as an energetic entry that is so packed with action and humor that it’s hard not to enjoy it.
In addition to this being the 13th entry in the film series, 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. In 1966, the original show — starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy — began airing. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the franchise has thrived over the ensuing five decades with some tremendous high points and a few...