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The peace-loving folk in Star Trek: Insurrection reside in a virtual Valhalla, tucked away on the rough fringes of the universe in an otherwise inhospitable area known as the briar patch. They may be called the Ba'Ku, but all they're missing is the tie-dyed outfits. Artisan-farmers, they have mastered and then rejected technology.
"You've achieved warp?" Picard asks incredulously. Yup, been there, did that, got the T-shirt, relates potential love interest Anij (Donna Murphy), although she explains it in the more highly evolved, politely condescending manner of the Ba'Ku. These intergalactic philosophers serve as a perfectly dramatic contrast to Picard's pushy Federation gang, whose obvious exploratory ambition makes them look like the Yuppies of the universe.
But the much starker contrast, which constitutes the pith of screenwriter Michael Piller's nicely etched script, is between the Ba'Ku and the jealously evil Son'a, who have major differences (and surprising similarities) despite a mutual affection for apostrophes in their name. It appears that Ponce DeLeon was searching in the wrong place all along. The sixteenth century discoverer of Florida should have looked skyward. For the fountain of youth exists, here in director Jonathan Frakes' wonderfully hokey outer space, and the Ba'Ku have found it. They're going to live forever. No wonder they're so smug and calm.
Naturally, the ugly Son'a, a dying civilisation made up of ghouls who all look like the leper dad in Braveheart, want this Pepperland for their own. And they aren't willing to share. In a bit of despicable manipulation reminiscent of Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler, Son'a leader Ru'afo, portrayed with heinous splendour by F. Murray Abraham, has gained the Federation's blessing for his planetary take-over; the Ba'Ku are to be relocated.
But something's rotten in outer space. The Son'a plan sticks in Picard's craw. Relocation of an indigenous population is a Federation charter no-no (and you think we Americans have a constitutional crisis?), and even though the Ba'Ku had actually emigrated to this youth-promoting planet about three hundred years ago, the uncharacteristic Federation action seems rash. Surely that governing body has not made an informed decision. Yet star fleet admiral Dougherty (Anthony Zerbe), on hand for the relocation, nervously assures the indignant captain that there has been no mistake. He orders his co-operation. Hence, there is only one thing for a sophisticated, self-assured hero of the universe to do. Risking court martial, Picard goes gallantly renegade in defence of the Ba'Ku. And of course his loyal crew, including a lacklustre Riker and an amusing-as-ever Data (Brent Spiner), follows him into the breach. Special effects-laden battles follow.
By combining a modicum of sociology with an astute helping of political science and then adding a sprinkling of psychology, Star Trek: Insurrection weaves a convivial tale of humanism -- providing yet another moral lesson to live by. But do you really care how many gigatrons it takes to energise the photosphere and thus activate the bio-nucleic gobbledegook shield, or something to that effect? If so, there's plenty of that to warm the cockles of your technospew-loving heart. For those who couldn't care less, letting the lingua Star Trek wash over you without exerting the slightest attempt at cognition won't in the least affect your ability to enjoy the light show-enhanced allegory.
Director Frakes, perhaps taking a cue from the Ba'Ku, creates a playfully back-to-basics Star Trek. There's no more trying to out-snazz the competition. The FX quotient never upstages the writing. And Herman Zimmerman's handsome production design, complemented by art deco-inspired uniforms for the villainous Son'a, sings a whimsically tasteful paean to the Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon heritage that inspired series creator Gene Roddenberry in the first place. But, while having found a workable approach to the cult product, Star Trek: Insurrection is still only light entertainment with a limited appeal. It's cotton candy for the mind no matter how apocalyptic the story line. Yet, it's nice to know that, even if only in sci-fi form, the spirit keeps on Trekking.
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